Hyundai, back in 2016 had launched the Ioniq, a car that could be had with three different electric powertrains – hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric. But this time around, Hyundai, has decided to introduce all-electric cars dubbed the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 7, three different cars with different body types and features catering to the specific needs of the market.
Kicking things off will be the Ioniq 5, a crossover that is set to be globally unveiled in February 2021. The company has given us some teasers ahead of the unveil that give us an idea of what to expect from the Ioniq 5. To begin with, the electric crossover gets LED illumination at the front and rear using the 256-pixel design inspired by Hyundai’s concept 45. The Ioniq 5 will get a clamshell hood that spans the width of the car to reduce panel gaps and as Hyundai claims ‘creates a clean and high-tech look’. The Ioniq 5 will come fit with massive 20-inch wheels with a parametric pixel design. All design elements that aim to give the car a futuristic look that should be unique to electric vehicles.
In terms of the powertrain, it will be the first car to get Hyundai Motor Group’s Electronic-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) battery technology that has been developed by Hyundai for their next-gen electric vehicles. Hyundai claims that the Ioniq 5 will be capable of doing the 0-100kmph sprint in 5.3 seconds and that a five-minute charge should give the crossover a 100km of range. The battery supports 800V and 400V charging and can be charged from 10-80 per cent in 18 minutes (claimed). The Ioniq 5 also features something called V2L (Vehicle to Load) that basically is a 3.5KW power supply that allows the user to charge and operate any appliance that is power rated for 110/220V. The teaser videos launched by Hyundai show people camping in the woods and using the V2L tech to power an oven, a treadmill and a full audio system.
Here’s what SangYup Lee, senior VP and head, Hyundai Global Design Centre said about the Ioniq 5, “Ioniq 5 presents an all-new customer experience through innovative EV design that is evocative of the icon that established Hyundai’s design DNA. Beginning with Ioniq 5, our dedicated BEV lineup brand will redefine the relationship between people and their cars, establishing a new standard against which all BEV design experiences will be measured”.
It will be interesting to see what the final product will be, once unveiled, and whether it will live up to the hype that Hyundai have created around it. The Ioniq 5 will be followed by the Ioniq 6 and 7 which are most likely to be a sedan and an SUV, the order in which they will be revealed isn’t certain yet.