SangYup Lee, head of Hyundai and Genesis design, is aware of the distinction between a designer and a stylist. The latter places a hat on the work of engineers, whereas the previous thinks about how a product goes for use. It is aesthetics, sure, but in addition performance. Which is why he is a giant believer of actual buttons in automotive interiors.
“Design is for serving to others, I strongly consider” Lee tells Motor1 in a New York Auto Present interview. “Haptic [buttons] are cool, but when it is not serving to others, it is not a great characteristic.”
We’re sitting within the inside of the newly revealed 2026 Palisade, and whereas there is a display screen for secondary HVAC controls, there are knobs for temperature, and shortcut buttons for a lot of infotainment capabilities and automobile capabilities for drive modes. The steering wheel has actual buttons, and there are actual buttons for mirror controls, too. Lee can also be fairly happy with the forefront of the middle console, which is formed to be a pad to relaxation your hand whereas working the switches.
Photograph by: Hyundai
Photograph by: Hyundai
The concept is that you do not have to raise your shoulder to vary any settings, and extra importantly, you are able to do so whereas protecting your eyes on the highway. There are different considerate touches, too. Lee factors out that many automobiles now have panoramic gauge clusters and infotainment screens built-in right into a panel that sits proud on the dashboard. Within the Palisade, they’re beneath a trim piece so they are not affected by glare.
“It is vital as a result of this automotive is for household,” Lee says. “We actually research what you do with a household, you choose up the youngsters from college, all of the actions, and we design primarily based on buyer life-style… it needs to be simple to drive, the automotive shouldn’t be difficult.”
The usability additionally impacts the outside design, too. As Lee informed us earlier than, the normal two-box SUV form helps maximize inside house, however the design workforce did delicate issues like taking part in with the tumblehome—the curvature of the home windows—to liberate headroom. One thing you won’t see except Lee factors it out, however one thing you may recognize regardless.
Photograph by: Hyundai
It is a refreshing strategy, and a great reminder that nice designers aren’t involved solely with how issues look. Beforehand, Lee informed Motor1 a couple of dialog he had with car-design icon Giorgetto Giugario. Lee requested the Maestro to call the favourite of his designs, figuring Giugario would say the Lotus Esprit, or one thing else spectacular and sporty. Giugario stunned Lee by selecting the unique Fiat Panda, as a result of it was the one he felt had the most important impression on how individuals lived.
In talking to Lee solely briefly, you may inform the impression that lesson had on him. And it is why Hyundai is a design chief in each sense—not simply aesthetics.
