The Hyundai Second Star Is a Retro-Modern Concept Car We Wish Was Real

Designed by Chris Min and Hyunbeen Kye for the 2025 Hyundai Stellar Restomod Competition, the Hyundai Second Star reimagines the classic Stellar through a modern lens. Rather than chasing pure nostalgia, the duo built their concept around a narrative: the “head of the household” who once relied on the original Stellar and is now entering the second act of their life.

That idea of continuity shapes every part of the project. The exterior retains the clean, understated geometry of the 1980s sedan, but its proportions and surfaces are refined into something sharper and more sculptural. Pixel-like lighting details and bold, grid-pattern wheels add a modern edge, but the car still feels true to its heritage.

Inside, the focus shifts to comfort and personal time, with the cabin envisioned as a space to rest, reflect and reset. Deep red upholstery, mosaic-like textures and warm, minimal forms evoke the atmosphere of the original Stellar without directly replicating it.

Min and Kye also emphasized their analog approach to the project, deliberately avoiding AI tools in favor of hand sketching, direct 3D modeling and tactile exploration to deliver a fresh, human-centered interpretation of a classic.

More cars on the grid via Behance