Hyundai has announced that it intends to launch a new pure-electric sub-brand called Ioniq – and that it will introduce it less than a year from now, with a production version of the 45 concept.
The Korean maker says that Ioniq will offer a “connected lifestyle experience” – which indicates that it will offer a higher degree of integration with smartphones and smart devices than conventional Hyundais. It’s likely that the company’s engineers will use Ioniq to roll out always-on technology, allowing cars to be updated over the air and other areas of Hyundai’s service to offer features and services on an ongoing basis.
New Hyundai Ioniq electric 2020 review
Hyundai has taken the unusual step of already confirming a launch date for the first model, and a naming pattern for Ioniq in general. The first automobile will be the Ioniq 5, a mid-sized SUV that will be, in effect, the production version of the retro-themed 45 concept that was one of the hits of last year’s Frankfurt motor Show. It will make its debut in the first few months of 2021.
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The second car, due in 2022, will be called Ioniq 6. It is also a production version of a well-received concept – the Prophecy saloon, which Hyundai previewed earlier this year. then in 2024 the company will launch a larger SUV, called Ioniq 7; it has given a sneak preview of this model in the images released to accompany the announcement.
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All three of these models will sit on a new dedicated EV platform, called E-GMP (Electric global Modular Platform). Hyundai has not issued any details on battery sizes or the technology involved, beyond claiming that E-GMP will “enable fast charging capability and plentiful driving range”. The company says that having a bespoke EV platform will allow a a lot more radical rethink on the car’s cabin, with greater seat adjustment and a slide-out drawer instead of a regular glovebox.