Back in April, Hyundai Motor Company launched the MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) model Staria, which first utilized the future mobility design theme 'Inside Out' - the concept extending the spatiality and openness of interior design to the outside - that gained a lot of popularity.
The Staria bears the direction of Hyundai Motor Company, which aims to utilize various spaces in the car. The design and specifications are differentiated according to the purpose of use, and the indoor space can be freely configured in a variety of ways, ranging from movement, rest, and camping. Therefore, sub-models of Staria, which have wide potential as ‘Purpose Built Vehicles’ such as campervans, limousines, and daycare buses, are scheduled to be released this year.
Then, what is the concept of the future mobility design theme ‘Inside Out’, and how did the designers put it into Staria? The researchers who designed Starria (Hyundai Commercial Design Team interior designer Jin-Hyuk Seo, exterior designer Joon Seo, researcher Sun-In You, Hyundai Color Material Finishing - CMF - team color/material designer researcher So-Hae Jun) were invited to a campsite near Seoul. They talked about the design of Staria and the direction of future mobility.
Inside Out: Staria's design theme extending the spatiality and openness of interior design to the outside
Q. What is the concept of Inside Out, Hyundai Motor's future mobility design theme? And what is its distinctive design element?
Joon Seo Senior Researcher | In general, car design starts with the exterior and leads to the interior, whereas Inside Out is a concept that unifies the interior and exterior design by expanding the sense of space and openness that can be felt in the interior from the user's point of view. Staria is the first model to which Hyundai Motor Company's future mobility design theme - Inside Out -was applied, and was created for a new mobility device most similar to a customized vehicle (PBV). In particular, in order to actively respond to the rapidly changing mobility service environment as the multi-seater mobility service expands, comfortable space and a sense of openness were emphasized.
Staria was able to secure the maximum height of the cabin up to 1,379mm by raising the total height by 70mm and lowering the ground clearance by 30mm compared to the previous model. The One Curve Shape shape that starts from the front bumper and runs smoothly over the roof along the A-pillar and back reminds us of a streamlined spaceship. In addition, Staria's own futuristic and symbolic image was completed based on the smooth surface of the body without character lines or other design elements.
Sun-In You, Researcher | Basically, the front and rear design have a concise graphic that best matches Staria's lean body. The front shows a futuristic image by using thin and long sidelights and daytime running lights that cross the hood and bumper. The Staria Tourer (9, and 11-seater) shows a seamless design by applying a radiator grill with the same color as the body, and it also completes a simple and unity design by placing headlamps and turn indicators on the grill. The rear lamp, which is connected with the black garnish on the top of the lamp and the bottom of the rear spoiler, is also designed to look simple and united to harmonize with the front.
Joon Seo, Senior Researcher | An essential element of the Inside Out design theme is a sense of openness. The wide-open feeling was maximized with a low beltline and significant height. Passengers can enjoy a new experience with a feeling of openness and pleasant spatiality as if riding a high-speed train through wide glass windows anywhere in the front, rear and sides. In order to realize Staria's unique 'Premium Cruiser Lounge' sensibility, the designers reconsidered the basics of interior space, such as the height of the space and the width and length of the windows.
The 'panoramic window' in Staria is a specialized design element that adds a cool sense of openness and expansion to a large space. In addition to the recent architectural design trend that focuses on openness, the design was inspired by ‘borrowed nature’, a design element of traditional Hanok architecture, and we created a large window where you can enjoy the surroundings as if you are looking into a frame.
Q. As the high-end MPV gets attention, there is a lot of interest in the Staria Lounge, which has enhanced the luxury with a unique design and various convenience specifications. What is the distinctive design element of Staria Lounge?
Joon Seo, Senior Researcher | Unlike the existing LCV (Light Commercial Vehicle) Staria Tourer and Cargo (3 and 5 seater), Staria Lounge (7 and 9 seater) is a 'Premium MPV', providing comfortable family travel and high-end business for passengers. In addition, chrome material was applied to the radiator grille, headlamp garnish, door handle, side mirror, and lower bumper to show a unique premium design. The design perfection was also maximized by unifying the Hyundai Emblem and the model logo on the rear in the same chrome color to emphasize the sense of unity with the overall exterior color.
Sun-In You, Researcher | Staria Lounge emphasized its uniqueness with a wider and grander three-dimensional mesh pattern grille at the front, tinted brass chrome on the garnish at the bottom of the bumper, and 8 ice cube-type headlamps and turn indicators. The rear part shows an outstanding appearance with an LED rear combination lamp with parametric pixels applied and a lamp-shaped garnish. In addition, tinted brass chrome side mirror covers and diamond-patterned 18-inch wheels exclusively for Lounge models were used to further enhance luxury. In particular, the dynamic welcome light applied to the daytime running lights and rear lamps is a design element that provides users with a special experience.
Convenience and comfort of customized transportation: Staria's interior design
Q. What is the difference between Staria and Staria Lounge's interior design elements?
Jin-Hyuk Seo, Senior Researcher | As an appropriate MPV, it focused on applying various specifications considering a wide range of users from commercial to family car use. Staria is designed to maximize the outside scenery viewed from the inside through a wide glass window, and to provide a comfortable and convenient moving experience with its wide spaces in a spacious cabin.
Speaking of the 7-seater Lounge model with enhanced luxury, the premium relaxation seat in the second row is used for business clients or consumers who want a more spacious and cozy space, and the superiority of materials, patterns, and new design shapes is emphasized. In the 9-seater Lounge model, a swivel function that rotates 180° back and forth has been added to the second row to enable various communication activities in the cabin. Also, the seats are designed so that they do not touch the interior trim when the second-row seats are moved back and forth or turned; A comfortable space has been constructed so that all passengers in the four rows can use it comfortably. In other words, Staria serves not only as a mode of transport but also as a means of transportation that provides various mobility services in the future - so convenience and comfortable living indoors are the main design concepts.
Q. The front seats of Staria not only have as great a sense of openness as the rear seats but also provide a comfortable user environment with plenty of storage space. How was the process of the design elements?
Jin-Hyuk Seo, Senior Researcher | The sense of openness of the front seats is excellent is because the dashboard is lowered as much as possible to emphasize a horizontal image, and the dashboard is placed in an optimal position in consideration of the driver's visibility. In addition, the passenger seat dashboard was moved forward to create a design that organically connects the driver's seat and front passenger seat, and the dashboard and door beltlines were connected to emphasize the sense of unity. The low door beltline is an element that maximizes the feeling of side openness along with the rear panoramic window. And there is also a factor that considers the safety and convenience of the front seat passengers - the side windows won't close all the way for passenger safety. Thanks to these subtle considerations, users can feel a sense of security.
Jin-Hyuk Seo, Senior Researcher | Staria is a model that puts great importance on storage from the very beginning. In particular, it was necessary to study the needs and usability of various consumers as an MPV. To this end, designers analyzed its competitors from the initial design stage and shared various ideas through collaboration with Hyundai Motor Design Studios overseas. In fact, while directly using various storage spaces, we were able to realize the optimal location and size of storage space for Staria's cabin as a result of developing it while considering the appropriate location and size according to the operation method and the items to be stored.
The tray and cup holder in front of the LCD dashboard and the tray behind the 10.25-inch infotainment monitor are representative ideas that make it stand out from its competitors. In the past, users often just put things on the dashboard, making it difficult to maintain a comfortable interior and blocking the driver's view. However, Staria enhances convenience by providing various storage spaces so that drivers can easily store their belongings.
Q. Can you estimate the blueprint for a customized vehicle (PBV) that Hyundai will unveil in the future through Staria?
Joon Seo, Senior Researcher | Staria Lounge with high-end convenience features, the Staria Tourer that can freely change the configuration of the rear seats or fold all the rear seats flat, and Staria Cargo that focuses on cabin space, Starria connects innovative design with premium interior space for consumers. It is mobility that can be used in various ways according to the lifestyles of people. Staria, which provides new and diverse spatial experiences such as camping, leisure, and high-end business limousines, is not just a means of transportation, but a starting point for customized transportation that values experience. Based on Staria's innovative design and maximized space utilization, you will be able to experience the spatiality of the future PBV.
Photography by Minseok Choi
