What could be the output of putting the Café Racer spirit and philosophy in an N electric car ?
3 transportation designers, 1 digital designer & 1 UX
4 months
CONTEXT
Nowadays, vehicles are being pushed towards electrification, making them increasingly technology-dependent. This is also leading to more and more automated tasks, with screens everywhere. Driving sensations are no longer the same. That's why Hyundai asked us to take the minimalist, sensation-focused philosophy of the café racer.
TEAM
For this project there were 5 of us: 3 transport designers, 1 digital designer and me in ux.
RESEARCH
So what is café racer and how will it guide the project? So we had to start by looking up the philosophy on the internet
CAFÉ RACER
DOWNSIZING
Radical Approach
LEGISLATION
Required pieces
SENSATION
Feel everything
CONNECTION
The same entity
FOCUS
On the moment
HERITAGE
Of independence
UNIQUE
No commercial standars
CONTRADICTS
Manufactured bike
FREE
No commercial standars
STANDARDISED
The spirit
So, based on this research, what do actual Café Racer users think? Is the mentality still as strong as ever? Is the motorbike community open despite the strict entry criteria?
USER RESEARCH
OPEN
Free to talk about their passion
OWN RULES
Bike and respect
UNIQUENESS
Every user or motorbike are different
KNOWLEDGE
Know their bike and when it had an issue
PRIDE
Who you are on a visible object
BIKE MEETING
TUNING CAR MEETING
SAME PASSION
Open to talk about their cars and modification
PERFECT PARALLEL
Same as Café Racer but with 4 wheels
Is there an equivalent of the Café Racer community in the car world ?
DIFFERENT ATTITUDE
Loud & spontaneous
SHOW OFF
Lights, burn and yell !
PERSONA
LIKE TO CHANGE
PLEASURE COMMUTE
PAUL
PAUL
PAUL
GAMER
NEWCOMER
SHARE HIS PASSION
How can Hyundai rethink sharing through digital innovation by giving a new mean of expression for the young generation ?
THE CONCEPT
With STRIDE, you can personalize your car as you progress through different levels. Unlock various car features to enhance both its style and your track performance.
From the front spoiler to the rear winglet, every detail reflects your unique style. Thanks to a connection with your video games, the E-ink bodywork adapts dynamically to your personal style.
You can also experience new sensations in bike mode, where the rear seat lifts, allowing you to feel like you’re floating in the air.
To advance through the levels, complete missions tailored to your skills.
MISSIONS
Tame the beast
1.
Level 1
Connexion
2.
Level 2
Fusion
3.
Level 3
Final symphony
4.
Level 4
The missions evolve: as you progress through the levels, they become increasingly challenging.
At Level 1, the goal is to discover the vehicle and everything it can do, exploring its initial power and aerodynamic grip.
Level 2 introduces a social and ecosystem aspect, where you receive feedback from other STRIDE pilots on your driving, helping you identify their strengths and learn how to adapt your style accordingly.
At Level 3, you’ll need to refine your driving style using the configurator, experiment with different setups, and aim to be as fast as possible on Hyundai tracks.
Finally, Level 4 is reserved for the regional “bosses,” where the goal is to be the fastest and top the leaderboard.
INTERIOR
WELCOME ON BOARD
THE SEATS
THE SEATS
THE SEATS
The moment you open the door, it begins with the seat. At first glance, it mimics a classic sports car design, familiar, reassuring.
But press the button, and the illusion shatters. The seat rises, your back lifted, your body suspended. Feet align with the pedals, knees locked into place by a sculpted support rising beneath you.
And then, bike mode takes over.
Every movement is sharpened, every sensation amplified. Shaped by extensive bodystorming, this position fuses ergonomics with adrenaline: reducing waste, maximizing precision, and pulling you deeper into the machine’s immersive rhythm.
DASHBOARD
DASHBOARD
DASHBOARD
On the driver’s side, the steering wheel is no longer just a tool, it’s a gateway. At its heart, a living screen connects you to the Human-Machine Interface, while side displays open a window onto the road itself. And when bike mode awakens, the wheel glides closer, merging instinct and machine for an electrifying bond of control.
On the passenger’s side, the spectacle continues. The vehicle bares its soul: a glowing graphics card, pulsing with raw intelligence, alongside the motors that power the journey. Secure handles invite you to hold on tight, because here, technology doesn’t just move you. It moves with you.
HMI
HMI ANIMATION
HMI ANIMATION
HMI ANIMATION
The Human-Machine Interface in STRIDE isn’t static; it’s alive. It adapts to you, shifting with your mood and your world. Sleek and minimal one moment, vibrant and expressive the next, it turns the cockpit into a living canvas. With the bold “Miami Vice” theme, retro-futuristic colors ignite the screen, transforming every drive into pure cinema.
But this goes beyond aesthetics. It’s identity. The interface becomes an extension of you, linking driver, machine, and road in a seamless dialogue.
Its design language draws from pixel art, a tribute to Hyundai’s DNA and the immersive worlds of gaming. Each pixel forms a bridge between precision and play, between technology and emotion.
Every detail serves a purpose. Essential driving data remains crystal clear, ensuring that control is never lost. Here, creative expression and functional clarity move as one, so you drive not only with focus, but with feeling.
ERGONOMICS
To shape the future, we first shaped the prototypes.
Through 3D printing, ideas took form: tested, refined, perfected.
The steering wheel was sculpted for grip, size, and visibility. After testing, we reduced its bulk to achieve balance and precision.
The seating model revealed the truth of comfort and posture. Each iteration brought us closer to harmony between ergonomics and emotion.
THANK YOU FOR READING THIS PROJECT !
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