All the stars aligned for Hyundai Motor’s sleek Stellar midsize sedan

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All the stars aligned for Hyundai Motor’s sleek Stellar midsize sedan

The Pony wasn’t the only Hyundai Motor vehicle that won strong public support. Stellar, a midsize passenger vehicle, contributed largely to the company’s rise to the top of the auto industry in Korea.

The car, launched in 1983, was similar to the Pony in that 80 percent of its parts were made in Korea rather than imported. The Stellar name derives from the Latin word stellaris, which means “star-like.” Hyundai Motor wanted a name that would represent the vehicle’s sophisticated appearance and strong performance.

Stellar was designed by the Italian automobile designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, who was also behind the Pony and several other Korean vehicles down the road. The car contained a Mitsubishi Motors engine and transmission.

When the Stella first came out, Hyundai offered two models. The 1.4-liter Stella was equipped with a 92-horsepower engine, while the 1.6-liter model had a 100-horsepower engine. In 1985, it combined them into a single, 1.5-liter model.

The Stellar had a maximum speed of 160 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour). In 1987, Hyundai Motor introduced the CXL model, which targeted the North American market. The vehicle, however, was only exported to Canada due to the strict emissions standards in the U.S. The Stellar was the only four-cylinder, rear-wheel passenger vehicle that Hyundai exported to North America until this year.

The vehicle gained a following among younger consumers thanks to its relatively affordable price and sharp design. The body was designed to minimize air resistance and therefore had a sleeker look. Eventually, taxi companies started using the Stellar.

At its height, the Stellar accounted for roughly 50 percent of the midsize market in Korea. It was even named the official vehicle of the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Stellar later became the basis for Hyundai Motor’s Sonata, which today has a strong following among Korean consumers. Between July 1983 and January 1997, Hyundai Motor produced 438,317 Stellars. The model holds the distinction of being the longest-selling vehicle in Korean automotive history.


By Lee Ho-jeong [ojlee82@joongang.co.kr]

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