By Leftlane Staff
Wednesday, Dec 7th, 2005 @ 10:21 am

Two born-and-raised Detroit guys steeped in the design culture of hometown General Motors are now point men for one of the auto industry’s most interesting challenges: turning Korea’s Hyundai and Kia into global styling leaders, AutoWeek reports. The two, Joel Piaskowski at Hyundai America and Tom Kearns at Kia America, quit GM to develop break-the-mold vehicles for two brands heavy with Honda and Toyota look-alikes. Both companies have made a reputation borrowing styling influences from other automakers for each new vehicle. The result: a dated, patchwork look across the model lines. That trend, however, is about to change. Hyundai Group Chairman Chung Mong Koo has decreed that his two brands develop proprietary looks and start building head-turning, unique vehicles. (Recently, we reported that Hyundai was gunning for the luxury market, and it planned to release a sports car concept. Meanwhile, rumors are circulating that Kia plans to build its agressive “Sidewinder” roadster.

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