When the Hyundai Ioniq 5 was first seen in public it turned a lot of heads. Even now, the Ioniq 5 still wows people who see this amazingly futuristic and high tech electric car. The fact that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 was the star of the show at the Fully Charged Outside event in 2021 is no surprise.
However, that was last year. This year we will see the first of Hyundai’s two follow-up electric offerings, and they are very exciting indeed. Named, unsurprisingly, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and the Hyundai Ioniq 7, the next generation will be equally as effective in turning heads.
Introducing the Hyundai Ioniq 6
The Ioniq 6 was originally seen in public as the concept car called the Prophecy. And, it has to be said, very little has changed on the outside as it transitioned to the production version. The interior, however, has had a huge transformation from the earlier crowd pleaser.
This is to be expected. Even though concept cars are often the first taste of what a production car will look like, the concept version often has a lot of fantasy features that would never cross over. They are there purely to pique the public’s imagination. Some features on concept vehicles are not even road legal.
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 – First Impressions
My first impressions of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 are really positive. The car has an alluring sportiness about it. The car makes me want to take it on the road and have fun. The front of the vehicle is reminiscent of the Porsche Taycan or the Tesla Model 3. The rear of the car makes me think of the Aston Martin DB11 with its gradual sloping towards the bumper.
Hyundai got their inspiration for the shape of the car from a pebble. The comparison is a fair one to make in my opinion. The Ioniq 6 has beautifully smooth edges and is shaped for optimal aerodynamics. The pixelated lights that were such a hit on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 also feature on the Ioniq 6, which you’ll be pleased to know.
This is an electric car that will appeal to many petrol heads still to make the transition to electric. That alone gives the car extra kudos.
What’s Under the Hyundai Ioniq 6?
Like the Ioniq 5, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 is built on the E-GMP platform which has been specially designed for all Hyundai and Kia electric vehicle releases. Unfortunately, this is all I know for certain. The rest of the information comes from a mixture of rumours and alleged insider information.
It has been rumoured that the Ioniq 6 will come with a 77.4kWh usable battery. This will be the same as on the Kia EV6. The mileage is estimated to be around the 320 mark. However, I have heard everything from 300 miles to 400 miles.
As with the Kia EV6, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 will have very fast rapid charging capability. It has been mooted that the car may be able to take up to 360kW. This is an absolutely huge capacity for an electric car.
The Interior of the Hyundai Ioniq 6
Again, very little is known about the interior. However, it is expected to be very similar to the Ioniq 5. There will, of course, be some upgrades and improvements on the technology. A year is a long time in the electric car world.
What Else Should We Know?
It is said that the production version has been seen out on the road for final testing.
The car has been tipped for final unveiling in late 2022 and going into production in early 2023. I would, however, take this with a pinch of salt. Kia and Hyundai are still plagued by production issues with their existing models, the EV6 and the Ioniq 5 respectively. I think it would be more realistic to expect the car to be available in late 2023 or early 2024.
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is slated to be a strong competitor to the Tesla Model 3. Looks-wise, the Ioniq 6 will certainly match up the Model 3. We will have to wait and see what the performance is like once it has been made available for the media.
The Hyundai Ioniq 7
If you think I’ve been vague about the Ioniq 6, just wait until you see what I have to say about the Ioniq 7.
Whereas the Ioniq 6 is a saloon/coupe vehicle, the Ioniq 7 will be a large SUV. The shape of the car, to me, is a bit of a cross between a Tesla Model X and a traditional Range Rover. There is a boxiness to the vehicle but without the harsh straight sides and sharp edges of the Range Rover.
Again as with the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, the Hyundai Ioniq 7 will feature pixelated lighting. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.
Although this car will also be built on the E-GMP platform, Hyundai will be using the Ioniq 7 to showcase their next generation of electric technology. This is where it gets very exciting indeed.
The next generation battery technology means that the Hyundai Ioniq 7 will be able to charge from 0-80% in just 7 minutes. This is absolutely mind blowingly quick. It is also expected that the Ioniq 7 will be fitted with wireless charging technology. As the battery will be so thin, this will not impact the floor space of the car at all.
The Ioniq 7 will come with level 3 autonomous driving capability. The vehicle is also ready to be upgraded to level 4 when the technology is perfected and becomes street legal. This is the closest we have come to a fully self driving car in the UK.
One final point to highlight. There will be digital key capability which means you can open the car using an app on your phone. This app will allow up to 4 users to access the car.
Final Thoughts
The Koreans just keep surprising me every time. They have shown that they are passionate about the electric vehicle project and that they are taking it seriously. Just when you think they have surpassed their rivals, they come out with something new to outdo themselves.
I am really pleased for the Hyundai/Kia group and I cannot wait to see their hard work in the metal. Who knows, maybe EVision will have one or both of these vehicles available to hire in the future. I can see there being big waiting lists for them.
