Our spy photographers have snapped a heavily camouflaged Hyundai Ioniq 6 prototype tackling its wintertime testing programme ahead of the car’s expected launch later this year. It was created to rival the likes of the Tesla model 3 and BMW i4.
The Ioniq 6 will also have a maximum range of 311 miles, which is the most amount of range from any Hyundai model to date. This will be thanks in equal parts to the firm’s 800V E-GMP architecture and the aerodynamic shape of the car’s body.
New Hyundai Prophecy concept review
It’s only a few months until Hyundai finally pulls the sheets off the Ioniq 6. However, rumours suggest that the brand has pushed back the car’s debut to the summer to allow for some last minute design changes that will help push the EV’s range beyond the 300-mile barrier laid out by the Ioniq 5.
Advertisement – post continues below
However, we can’t see any of these changes yet, as the prototype in these images is still heavily camouflaged. South Korean motoring publications have suggested that the tweaked Ioniq 5 will feature slightly different styling and a longer body, though. Hyundai will also now fit the Ioniq 6 with the same 77.4kWh battery pack found in the Kia EV6, rather than the 73kWh unit found in the Ioniq 5.
24
To the casual observer, these are trifling differences, but small improvements soon add up. When coupled with the car’s slippery shape, which is heavily influenced by the Prophecy concept, it indicates that the Ioniq 6 could achieve a range in excess of 500km (311 miles), while adopting the Ioniq 5’s 301bhp four-wheel drive dual-motor powertrain.
This 301bhp setup will be reserved for the flagship model, though. less expensive versions of the Ioniq 6 will also be available, featuring a smaller 58kWh battery pack and a single electric motor, making a starting price of £40,000 plausible.
With Hyundai prototypes giving little away about the Ioniq 6’s styling, our exclusive images offer a better idea of how the car will look. The car will have proportions similar to those of the Ioniq hybrids, with a longer bonnet, a low-set glasshouse and bigger front and rear overhangs than the Prophecy. The four-door coupe shape will be broken up with the addition of a rear spoiler set low on the bootlid for improved aerodynamics.
Inside, the Ioniq 6 will take a lot more inspiration from the Ioniq 5 than it does from the Prophecy concept, borrowing the former model’s dual-screen infotainment system. It will also come with a conventional centre console and a tunnel-like armrest running from the dashboard through the middle of the cabin.
Now find out which are the best electric cars on sale now…