Hyundai Pony

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the rear-wheel drive Hyundai Pony (1975-1985). For the front-wheel drive car that was sold in Europe as the Hyundai Pony (1985-1994), see Hyundai Excel.

Hyundai Pony
FR layout
Chronology
SuccessorHyundai Excel
Hyundai Elantra

The Hyundai Pony (

estate car body styles. The Pony nameplate remained in use until 2000 on some export versions of the Hyundai Excel and Accent
.

Background

George Turnbull, the former managing director of Austin and Morris at British Leyland in 1974.[2] He in turn hired five other top British car engineers, Kenneth Barnett as body designer, engineers John Simpson and Edward Chapman, John Crosthwaite as chassis engineer and Peter Slater as chief development engineer.[3][4] With Turnbull's experience with the Morris Marina,[5] engines and transmissions from Mitsubishi, some parts from the Ford Cortina they were already producing, and a hatchback body styled by Italdesign Giugiaro
, they developed the Hyundai Pony.

First generation (1975)

First generation
Curb weight
870–935 kg (1,918–2,061 lb)[7]

The Pony was presented as a coupé concept car

estate car arrived in April 1977. In 1981, the small boot lid from the saloon was replaced by a hatchback tail gate creating a new five-door liftback model. This was accompanied with a new three-door liftback. The Pony was loosely based on both the earlier licence-built Ford Cortinas and the Morris Marina, with former British Leyland engineers being hired by Hyundai to design the car.[11]

Hyundai began exporting the Pony to Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador and Egypt in 1976. European exports began in 1979 with Belgium and the Netherlands, with Greece added shortly thereafter. The pickup version was added in October that year, only available with the smaller, 1.2-litre (73 cu in), engine and a 380 kg (838 lb) payload.[12]

The 1,238-cubic-centimetre (75.5 cu in) four-cylinder engine claimed 55 PS (40 kW) and the 1,439-cubic-centimetre (87.8 cu in) engine produced 68 PS (50 kW). The 1.4 GLS was tested by the British car magazine Motor and top speed was 92 mph with acceleration from 0–60 mph in 15.3 seconds.[13]

Lineup

  • 1200:GLS/GL/Standard (UK: T, L, TL, GL)
  • 1400:GLS/GL (UK: TL, GL, TLS, GLS)
  • 1600:GLS/GL/Limited (not in all markets)
  • Hyundai Pony saloon (South Korea)
    Hyundai Pony saloon (South Korea)
  • Hyundai Pony 3-door liftback (New Zealand)
    Hyundai Pony 3-door liftback (New Zealand)
  • Hyundai Pony estate (South Korea)
    Hyundai Pony estate (South Korea)
  • Hyundai Pony pickup (Greece)
    Hyundai Pony pickup (Greece)

Second generation (1982)

Second generation
Curb weight
920–1,015 kg (2,028–2,238 lb)[14][15]

Introduced in January 1982, the Pony II was similar mechanically to the first-generation version, but was extensively restyled. Only the five-door Liftback and two-door pickup were offered.

  • Rear View
    Rear View
  • Hyundai Pony Pickup (Front View)
    Hyundai Pony Pickup (Front View)
  • Hyundai Pony Pickup (Rear View)
    Hyundai Pony Pickup (Rear View)
  • Interior
    Interior

With the Pony II, exports also began to the UK in the spring of 1982 – making it the first South Korean car to be sold there. Initially, the Pony was positioned as a budget offering between Eastern Bloc brands (Lada, Skoda) and the lower echelons of established Japanese makes for sales, marking the beginning of a successful foray into this market by Korean carmakers.

Engine types

For 1984, the Pony came only with a 1,439-cubic-centimetre (87.8 cu in)

carburettor (manual choke) and breaker point-type ignition
.

Trim levels

Trim levels were 'L' (standard), 'GL/CX', and 'GLS/CXL'. The 'CX/CXL' designations were for 1987 model years only.[

vanity mirror
, full cloth seats, and (from 1985) a standard 1.6 L engine.

Only the 'L' and 'CX' were trim levels for 1987. The 'L' was the same as the previous 'L', however the clock was now digital and the CX had a standard tachometer. From 1986 to 1987, interior colours available were tan or blue. From 1984 to 1985, it was light grey on dark grey. Options included rear window

fog lamps, and extra lights in the rear. All GTs came with the more powerful 1.6 engine. The Pony pickup was sold in Europe (only) until the end of the 1980s. The second generation Pony remained on sale until 1988 (until 1990 in South Korea). In some markets the Pony was replaced by a re-badged Hyundai Excel
from 1985, particularly in Europe.

Lineup

  • 1200: LE/L/GLX/GLS/GL/Standard
  • 1400: GLS/GL/CX
  • 1600: GLS/CX

Canadian-spec (Non-ECC LHD)

Canadian specification Hyundai Pony 1400 GLS
Canadian specification Hyundai Pony 1400 GLS

The Pony II was exported to Canada from 1983, where it was one of the least expensive vehicles on the market, and sales greatly exceeded expectations; initial projections for 1984 called for 5,000 sales, but the final total was 25,123,[16] making it one of the top-selling vehicles in that country. The Pony was released for sale in Canada for the 1984 model year and sales ended in 1987. The Pony was sufficiently popular there that it was sold alongside the Excel until 1987 rather than being replaced by that vehicle as was done in some other markets. The Canadian version of the Pony was modified to meet local standards. Differences between the Canadian Pony versus its European counterparts were 8-kilometre-per-hour (5.0 mph) bumpers, sealed-beam headlights, side marker lamps instead of indicator repeaters (also in a lower position), and slight alterations in interior instrumentation and trim application.

Other models

Coupe concept

The Pony Coupe Concept was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign and first shown at the 1974 Turin Motor Show. According to Italdesign, the styling exercise was not performed under commission from Hyundai, but that company's executives asked to brand the concept as a Hyundai just before the opening of the Turin show.[8] After the positive reception in Turin, the concept Coupe was imported to Korea and featured in domestic advertisements there; reverse engineering the concept began at the Hyundai Ulsan plant, and engineering drawings were made, but the Pony Coupe never reached mass production.[17][18]

The styling of the Pony Coupe Concept went on to inspire both the DMC DeLorean (1981)[19] and Hyundai N Vision 74 concept (2022).[20] The N Vision 74 is equipped with dual electric traction motors (both fitted to the rear axle) with a combined output of 670 hp (500 kW) and 664 lb⋅ft (900 N⋅m) of torque, drawing from a 62.4 kW-hr battery pack and hydrogen tanks storing 4.2 kg (9.3 lb) for an on-board fuel cell.[21][22]

  • Front View
    Front View
  • Rear View
    Rear View

Rebadged Excel

Further information: Hyundai Excel

In Europe, the front wheel drive Hyundai Excel was sold under the Pony name from 1985 as a replacement for the rear wheel drive version. In other markets, the second generation Pony continued on sale alongside the new Hyundai Excel. Until discontinuation, Excel carried the Pony name.

  • The first generation Excel (X1) was called Pony in Europe from 1985 to 1987, and the face-lifted model from 1987–1989 was called the Pony XP.
  • For the second generation Excel (X2), the hatchback versions were called Pony in Europe.

The final usage of the name was with the first generation Hyundai Accent, sold as the Pony in France. The Pony name was last used by Hyundai in 2000.

Super Pony

For the second and third generations, some taxi models of the Hyundai Accent were sold as "Hyundai Super Pony". The fourth generation used the name "Grand Pony" instead.

Pony EV

In April 2021, Hyundai displayed the Pony Heritage EV, a restored first-generation Pony converted with an electric vehicle powertrain as a concept, in Hyundai Motorstudio Busan.

45 EV concept vehicles.[9][27]

  • Front View
    Front View
  • Rear View
    Rear View
  • Headlight detail
    Headlight detail
  • Taillight detail
    Taillight detail
  • Interior and nixie tube display
    Interior and nixie tube display

References

  1. ^ "Hyundai Pony – Koreas First Mass-Produced Car in 1976". Koreatimes.co.kr. 2010-02-21. Archived from the original on 2013-12-26. Retrieved 2011-12-06.
  2. ^ Wood, Jonathan (24 December 1992). "Obituary: Sir George Turnbull". The Independent. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  3. ^ The Times July 4th 1974
  4. ^ The Engineer. Jan 30th 1975
  5. ^ Korean connection
  6. ^ "국산車 1호모델 '포니1'도 이젠 문화재".
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Dutch Hyundai Pony brochure". Flickr. 21 August 2008. Archived from the original on 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2020-10-24.
  8. ^ a b "Hyundai Pony Coupe Concept". Italdesign. Archived from the original on 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  9. ^ a b "Hyundai unveils the next generation Heritage-Series PONY". Hyundai. Archived from the original on 2021-08-30. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  10. ^ "An icon from the past". Hyundai. Archived from the original on 2021-08-30. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  11. ISBN 978-1-78500-392-9. Archived
    from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  12. ^ Kennett, Pat, ed. (September 1982). "What's New: Budget-price pick-up". TRUCK. London, UK: FF Publishing Ltd: 11.
  13. ^ Motor March 1982
  14. ^ a b c d e "Dutch Hyundai Pony II brochure". Flickr. 2 October 2008. Archived from the original on 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2020-10-24.
  15. ^ a b c "Canadian Hyundai Pony II brochure". Flickr. 18 February 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2020-10-24.
  16. ^ "Import sales up on Pony express". Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. January 12, 1985. p. D12. In 1984, Hyundai delivered 25,123 models
  17. ^ Golson, Daniel (July 14, 2022). "Hyundai N Vision 74 concept Is a Designer's Dream Fulfilled". Road/Show. CNet. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  18. ^ "Rolling Lab: N Vision 74". Hyundai N. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  19. ^ "An icon from the past". Hyundai Worldwide. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  20. ^ Roth, Emma (July 17, 2022). "Hyundai N's 'rolling labs' imagine performance EVs that aren't so boring". The Verge. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  21. ^ Kalmowitz, Andy (July 15, 2022). "The Hyundai N Vision 74 Is Hydrogen-Powered Perfection". Jalopnik. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  22. ^ Evans, Scott (July 15, 2022). "Hyundai N Vision 74 First Look: Build It Now". Motor Trend. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  23. ^ "Hyundai Pony EV one-off concept looks back to brand's heritage". Motor1.com. 13 April 2021. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  24. ^ "Hyundai's Pony EV Restomod Is a Genuine—Ginuwine?—Stunner". Automobile Magazine. 16 April 2021. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  25. ^ Meiners, Jens (April 12, 2021). "1970s Hyundai Pony Restored with EV Powertrain, Ultra-Cool Interior". Car and Driver. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  26. ^ Clark, Mitchell (November 15, 2021). "Hyundai's restomod Grandeur is the perfect EV for a supervillain". The Verge. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  27. ^ "Hyundai Motor Showcases Heritage Series PONY as Icon of Design Innovation" (Press release). Hyundai Motor Corporation. April 16, 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
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