Morris Garages' Past Meets the Future in Hanum Jeong’s EXE:ION Concept

By Hugo Mattson June 28, 2025

EXE:ION reimagines MG's legendary EX series through electric and ion propulsion harmony
Designer Hanum Jeong marries narrative design with technical innovation
Taking a cue from the EX135, the car prioritizes both aesthetics and functional innovation

A New Vision With Roots

In the frequently cacophonous universe of car design, where form pursues fashionable impermanence and performance in greater and greater measures is being expressed in kilowatts, Hanum Jeong has opted for an alternative beginning. EXE:ION concept is more than a far-future sketchbook fantasy. It is a conscious reference to MG's history of experimentation, namely the EX135 and the model's attempts at smashing speed records in the pre and post war eras.

EXE:ION doesn't merely borrow from history; it reimagines it. By mixing up inspiration from MG's historical EX series with theoretical technologies such as ion propulsion, Jeong has produced a concept that does not at all retread the past but reconfigures it as a projection of what MG's future might be.

Design as a Functional Language

The shape of EXE:ION is recognizably liquid. Its surfaces are stretched taut and organic, narrowing into crisp precision at their edges. The mid-canopy is blended into the body with no seam, presenting a monolithic shape that seems carved out by air itself. This aerodynamic clarity is not a stylistic cliche, but rather a functional requirement for a speed record car.

The integration of the ion propulsion system is not relegated under the bodywork. It is asserted. Towards the back, the ion ring that glows is not merely a design statement but a visual reference to its conceptual acceleration system, invoking MIT's experimental aircraft technology. In this manner, EXE:ION's design tells its technical narrative directly through shape and form.

A Powertrain Rooted in Imagination and Innovation

Though entirely theoretical, the EXE:ION's propulsion concept is based in reality. The main thrust comes from an electric drivetrain, a reasonable choice in a forward-looking performance vehicle. But the ion propulsion system begs questions. While generally found in aerospace, its application here is both a challenge and a hint. What if propulsion in cars could move beyond spinning components?

This complementary notion — useful electric power and speculative ion acceleration — embodies MG's innovation and inquisitiveness spirit.

Remnants of the EX135, Rewritten

MG's EX135 made history in its sleek design and record-breaking performances. Jeong's re-interpretation appropriates the essence of shape but eschews nostalgia. EXE:ION takes the design principles of the EX135 and develops them into a novel design language. The tapered arches, enclosed canopy, and the swooping rear volume all convey speed and control.

Early studies evidence the progression. From loose forms to detailed models, the design process is evident. Each iteration hones the concept of speed as an expression of design. What's initially reverence becomes something expressive and new.

From Studio to Digital Showcase

Even though the idea is still virtual, EXE:ION lives outside of renders. It is a testament to a process of systematic thinking and iteration. Hanum Jeong's discipline is apparent in the emergence, the tension of forms, and the cohesion of ideas. It is a design that raises questions. What would a car be like if we let go of existing propulsive assumptions?

This design does more than imagine velocity. It asks us to reimagine what it is.

Designer to Watch: Hanum Jeong

Hanum Jeong is a new wave of designer who sees the car as something beyond transportation. With EXE:ION, he bridges heritage with future possibilities. He is a designer to watch for as he combines technical curiosity with aesthetic clarity.

Keep Scrolling for the full gallery of the EXE : ION Concept by Hanum Jeong