Pony, then Stella, Sonata.
Hyundai Motor continues its heritage commemorative campaign. This time it's Stella Sonata.
Hyundai Motor is launching a heritage campaign marking the 40th anniversary of the Sonata's launch that reflects on the meaning of long-standing relationships through the Sonata and its predecessor, the Stella.
The Stella, released in 1983, was Korea's second indigenous passenger model after the Pony and the starting point of Hyundai Motor's lineage of indigenous mid-size cars. The Sonata, which was first released in 1985 as the premium trim model of the Stella, has evolved over eight generations and is a representative global volume model approaching cumulative sales of 10 million units.
Hyundai Motor will hold the exhibition "By your side – Stella & Sonata," showcasing archives related to the Stella and Sonata along with the restored 'Stella 88' vehicle inside and outside the greenhouse space of the cultural venue Piknic near Namsan in Seoul from Sept. 25 to Jan. 4, 2026. Hyundai Motor will also participate as a sponsor of the "Hilton Seoul autobiography" exhibition held in Piknic's main building during the same period and plans to present the Stella, which shares the 1980s historical backdrop with the Hilton Seoul, to provide a multifaceted view of the era's history.
First, a restored special edition "Stella 88," released to commemorate the 1988 Seoul Olympics, will be exhibited in Piknic's outdoor space.
Inside Piknic's greenhouse, an archive displaying past materials and stories — including photographs capturing moments when the Stella and Sonata were alongside customers, restoration drawings, design sketches, advertising videos and catalogs — will be exhibited, highlighting the various relationships that begin with the Stella and continue with the Sonata.
The exhibition is free to attend, and Hyundai Motor customers who verify their status through the MyHyundai app or their vehicle key can also view the "Hilton Seoul autobiography" exhibition held in the main building at a discounted price.
Hyundai Motor is also publishing "Retrace magazine: Stella & Sonata." This magazine, the second in the series following "Retrace magazine: Pony" published in 2023, contains stories from customers and employees of the Stella and Sonata under the keyword "relationships."
The magazine includes a total of 16 pieces of content — interviews, essays and columns alongside the history of Hyundai Motor's mid-size cars — and reflects on the value and meaning of long-standing relationships through the Sonata and its predecessor, the Stella, which have accompanied customers for a long time.
To commemorate the magazine's publication, a book talk for magazine readers discussing behind-the-scenes vehicle development and key episodes from the magazine will be held Oct. 18 at Hyundai Motorstudio Seoul.
In addition, special goods such as the magazine, notebooks and postcards produced to commemorate this heritage campaign will be sold at Shop Piknic on the basement level 1 of Piknic's main building during the exhibition period. Those items will also be available at Hyundai Motorstudio Seoul, Goyang and Busan and on the Hyundai Collection official website.
A Hyundai Motor representative said, "The restoration of the 'Stella 88' was more than a recreation of the past; it was a process of retracing past employees' efforts and dedication to developing proprietary technology," and added, "We hope it serves as an opportunity to reflect on the value of the long-standing relationships formed through the Stella and Sonata that have been with customers for a long time," noting, "We cherish the relationships we have built with countless customers and will continue to expand connections between people through mobility in line with our brand vision of progress toward humanity."
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