Hyundai’s Head of Design Opens His Sketchbook

Before we end up with a production vehicle, countless sketches are scribbled. To coincide with the unveiling of Hyundai‘s new three-row electric SUV, the Ioniq 9, we were given access to Simon Loasby’s (senior vice-president and head of Hyundai’s design centre) sketchbook.

A closer look at the notebook reveals the inspiration behind the turbine used to create the wheels on the 2026 Ioniq 9.

Simon Loasby and his team also studied the shape of a boat to create the relatively tapered rear section. In fact, the third-generation Buick Riviera was an interpretation of the boat-tail shape more than 50 years before the Ioniq 9.

Finally, the Korean alphabet inspired the realization of the Hyundai Ioniq 9 project, which we saw in Mr. Loasby’s sketchbook. Hyundai is a car manufacturer based in South Korea that is increasingly emphasizing its roots.

Loasby worked for Volkswagen in China and Bentley, and Rolls-Royce before applying his talent and expertise at Hyundai.