The beginning of Hyundai Motor Company dates to April 1946 when founder, Ju-Yung Chung established Hyundai Auto Service in Seoul, South Korea at the age of 31 years. The name Hyundai was chosen for its meaning which in English translates to “modern.” The Hyundai logo is symbolic of the company's desire to expand. The oval shape represents the company's global expansion and the stylized "H" is symbolic of two people (the company and customer) shaking hands.
Hyundai Motor Company was founded by Ju-Yung Chung and younger brother Se-Yung Chung in December 1967. In 1968 the company entered into a contract with Ford motor company to assemble the Ford Cortina and Granada for the South Korean market and continued to produce them until 1976. Hyundai completed construction of the Ulsan plant in six months and achieved the shortest groundbreaking to first commercial production of any of Ford’s 118 plants. The eight year journey provided Hyundai with assembly knowledge, blueprints, technical specifications, production manuals, and trained Hyundai engineers.
THE FORMATIVE YEARS
To stimulate economic growth, the South Korean government formulated a detailed plan for the development and manufacture of Korean cars by 1975. Four Korean companies: Hyundai, Daewoo, Kia, and SSangyong accepted the challenge. Hyundai submitting a plan for a new plant with a capacity of 80,000 Korean designed cars to be produced each year. Hyundai approached 26 firms in five countries to acquire the additional technologies required.
· 10 firms in Japan and Italy for car design
· 4 firms in Japan and the United States for stamping equipment
· 5 firms in the United Kingdom and Germany for casting and forging equipment
· 2 firms in Japan and the United Kingdom for engines
· 5 firms in the United States and United Kingdom for automotive parts
Giorgetto Giugiaro's ItalDesign firm was hired for styling and design while Mitsubishi was selected for engine, transmission, rear axle, and casting technology. Hyundai contracted with former British Leyland Motor Corp president, George Turnbull and six other British technical experts to serve for a three year period for the development of Hyundai's first indigenous model, the Pony.
Production began in 1975 and the Pony was officially released in 1976. After the contract with the British experts ended in 1977, Hyundai hired moonlighting Japanese engineers to solve remaining issues. With the eventual goal to export automobiles to the United States, Hyundai released the Pony for testing, certification, and approval in Europe. Exports of the Pony soon followed and the Pony subcompact was displayed at the 1978, 56th International Automobile Expo in Brussels. That same year, Hyundai exported their 10,000th Pony.
Hyundai made the most of the Pony design as it was available in several configurations. A Pony pickup was introduced in May 1976, a station wagon in April 1977, and a three door hatchback in March 1980. A refreshed Pony II was released in January 1982 in a choice of five door hatchback or pickup. Both the Pony and Pony II offered three Mitsubishi engine choices including a 1.2L, 1.4L (70 hp), and a 1.6L (74 hp). These engines were SOHC hemispherical with two vales per cylinder. Starting in 1985 the HD badging was replaced with Hyundai spelled out and air conditioning was offered with the 1.6L engine. It is interesting to note that a 1.6L GT package included a leather-wrapped Momo steering wheel, tachometer, fog lights, and unique badging. While Hyundai only expected to export 5,000 Pony IIs to Canada in 1984, over 50,000 were sold.
For the next few years, Hyundai applied the knowledge gained from the Pony and set to work on two new projects. One was a subcompact Pony replacement that would come to be known as the Excel. The other was a compact sedan to replace the Ford Cortina and would be badged the Stellar. The 1983 Stellar made use of the rear wheel drive Cortina chassis, but wore a body designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro. Many luxury options were offered such as power windows, locks, and mirrors, remote fuel door and trunk, and air conditioning. Likewise several engine choices were offered including 1.4 and 1.6 liter models licensed from Mitsubishi. In 1987 the Stellar II was released with a redesigned 2.0L engine. The original Stellar's double wishbone suspension was changed to a MacPherson strut design. Emission restrictions prevented the Stellar from reaching the United States, but it was exported to Canada and other countries.
The 1985 Excel (also known as the Pony, Presto, and a similar Mitsubishi Precis) was Hyundai's first front wheel drive automobile and was produced until 1994. With the Excel, Hyundai finally earned their much sought approval to enter the United States automotive market in 1985. The Excel was offered in two formats: a three door hatchback and a sedan. In addition to a lengthy list of features, the Excel held a starting price of less than $5,000. Forbes magazine named it one of the top 10 products of the year and the Excel sold a staggering 126,000 vehicles that year, more than any other import. A facelifted second generation Excel was sold from 1990 to 1994. Mitsubishi engines were available in 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5 liters.
RAPID EXPANSION AND GROWING INDEPENDENCE
In 1986 for the follow-on to the Ford Granada sedan, Hyundai rebadged the Mitsubishi Debonair as the Hyundai Grandeur. The first generation Grandeur was offered until 1992 when Hyundai partnered with Mitsubishi to develop the next generation (which became the third generation Mitsubishi Debonair). Hyundai designed the body and trim while Mitsubishi was tasked with the powertrain.
The success of Excel led to plant expansions at home and abroad. Design on a new Korean plant in Asan began in October 1988 and the 40 acre plant was opened in 1990 at a cost of 250 billion won. Asan specialized in sedans including Sonata and XG/Grandeur. In North America, Hyundai opened a plant in Bromont, Quebec, Canada. Over the years the Ulsan plant grew to cover over 4.8 million square meters making it the largest automotive plant in the world. Ulsan is production home of the Getz, Accent, Elantra, Coupe, Santa Fe, Trajet, Matrix, H-1, H-100 and Terracan. Another Korean plant in Chunjoo specializes in trucks, buses, and specialty vehicles.
During this rapid period of growth, Hyundai leveraged other Hyundai divisions to optimum advantage. This included electronics, robotics, steel stamping, and even Hyundai's massive shipyards.
As Hyundai's engineers gain more experience, they continue to implement more of their own technology and refinement. This work and the new Asan plant culminate in Hyundai's first entire automobile using their design and technology: the first generation, 1989 Sonata. Designed with the North American market in mind, the first generation Sonata was styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro's ItalDesign firm. Some were manufactured in Korea and some in the Quebec plant. Multiple Sirius engine choices (including SOHC and DOHC options) were offered for various markets. It should be noted that the engines still implemented Mitsubishi design elements. American models were originally offered with a 2.4 liter inline 4 with 110hp, but a 3.0 liter V6 was introduced in 1990. Other markets received either a 1.8 liter (95hp) or 2.0 liter (131hp) engine.
Also in 1989 a sport coupe version of the Excel was introduced as the Scoupe (project code SLC). The Scoupe sold relatively well and was notable as being the first use of Hyundai's advanced in-house designed, Alpha engine. Available in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions, the Alpha was the first engine designed in Korea. The original 1.5 liter SOHC engine was later made in a smaller 1.3 liter version. The Alpha was later used in the Accent and Kia Rio. The Scoupe was sold until 1994.
Anxious to switch to in-house designs, the short-lived Stellar was replaced by the Elantra compact sedan in 1991 (project code J1). The Elantra is also known as the Avante (2nd generation) and Lantra. The name Lantra arose because Mitsubishi briefly complained that Elantra was too similar to their Elante trim level. Lotus also complained of the similarity to the Elan moniker. Note: the Elantra survived longer than the Elante or Elan and Elantra became the official name worldwide in 2001. The Elantra was powered by the 1.6L inline 4 cylinder Beta engine featuring a cast iron block and aluminum DOHC cylinder heads, MFI fuel injection, 4 valves per cylinder, and forged steel connecting rods. It produced about 114 hp at 6,000 rpm. The top speed was 116 mph and it made 22 mpg/city.
The second generation Sonata was introduced in 1993 (project code Y2) featuring a more modern shape reminiscent of the Mazda 626 and Honda Accord. Engine choices included a 2.0L inline 4 and an optional SOHC Sigma 3.0L V6 producing about 150 hp. This Sonata was originally produced in both South Korea and Canada but mostly due to falling sales, the Bromont, Quebec plant was shuttered in 1994.
A second generation Elantra debuted in 1995 (project code RD) in sedan and station wagon styles. Engine choices included the 1.6 and 2.0L Beta as well as a 2.0L turbodiesel (not in the U.S.). The Elantra was facelifted in 1998.
The Accent subcompact was introduced in 1995 (project code X3) to replace the Excel. It is also known as the Pony, Excel, Verna, and Brisa. The Accent was extremely popular in Australia and is still rated as one of the most popular imports of all time. In 1998 it achieved a 5.5% share of the Australian market. A second generation, larger Accent was introduced in 2000. Several Alpha engine choices were available including the 1.5L SOHC inline-4 with 92 hp, 1.5L DOHC inline-4 with 101 hp, and the 1.6L DOHC with 104 hp.
Hyundai introduced a large, premium sedan in 1996, the Hyundai Dynasty. It was only offered in a few markets but was produced until about 2003 and offered a choice of the Sigma 3.0 and 3.5L V6 producing 205 and 225 hp respectively. The Sigma has a cast iron block and aluminum DOHC cylinder heads with MFI fuel injection, 4 valves per cylinder, and forged steel connecting rods. Note: this engine also powers the 2001 Kia Sedona minivan, Santa Fe, XG350, Kia Amanti, and Kia Sorento.
After a short break following the end of Scoupe production, Hyundai introduced a new coupe in 1996, the Tiburon (project code RC). In various markets, it is also known as the Coupe, Turbulence, and Tuscani. It was initially offered with a choice of a 1.6 or 1.8L Beta engine with 114 or 129 hp respectively. The Tiburon was first introduced to the United States in 1997 with a 1.8 or 2.0L Beta engine. The 2.0L produced 135 hp. A redesign in 1999 offered a newer 2.0L Beta engine.
Sonata's third generation release in 1996 (project code Y3) reintroduced European design elements with a more upmarket look. As with the previous generation an inline four was offered as well as the 3.0 liter Sigma V6. However, it was the fourth generation released in 1998 (1999 in the United States) that the Sonata began to take off in North America. The European styling influence remained, and the design was acknowledged by members of the press as attractive and original. Four engine choices were offered including 1.8L, 2.0L, 2.4L, and an impressive Delta 2.5L V6 producing about 170 hp. This introduction coincided with the 10 year, 100,000 mile warranty in the United States.
A subcompact economy car, the Hyundai Atos was introduced in 1997. It is also known by the names Atos Prime, Amica, Dodge Atos, Santro, and Kia Vista. A second generation version was introduced in 2003.
Subject: History Of Hyundai.. 
26/3/2008, 1:35 pm
