It seems like while Tesla has run away with all-you-can-eat sized slices of the electric car pie in several markets around the world, traditional automakers have only now begun to catch up. Which means that cars like Tesla Model 3 had enough of a head start to start stepping on the toes of combustion-engined cars on the list of the 10 most popular cars worldwide.
That said, the big names in the industry aren't taking it lying down. Hyundai, for one, is shoring up an impressive offensive on its E-GMP bespoke electric platform. The highly impressive Hyundai Ioniq 5 was the first. We can now see it was but a teaser for what's to come.
Enter the Hyundai Ioniq 6, an all-electric sedan, that Hyundai is proudly calling an 'electrified streamliner'. Hyundai has used sustainable materials in novel ways to mirror the values of today’s EV customers. Hyundai’s Prophecy EV Concept inspired the IONIQ 6’s pristine aerodynamic shape and simple basic lines. Much like that of its sibling, the Ioniq 5, the two cars couldn’t be more distinct. The Ioniq 6 SUV will have a pixel theme to accent its lighting features, just like the Ioniq 5 SUV that came before it.
UPDATED NOVEMBER 2022: We've added more details to this story regarding the unbelievable range of the Hyundai Ioniq 6, and why it'll give the Tesla Model 3 a good fight.
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 EV Drives A Lot Of Curves
The four-door coupe-shaped, supple and curvy prophecy concept car served as an inspiration for the Hyundai Ioniq 6, while incorporating contemporary components like the Parametric Pixel lighting. This zero-emission vehicle evokes a classic design approach. Both the rear tail spoiler and a piece of the front bumper have a vintage Porsche-like appearance to them. Hyundai refers to it as adhering to “Ethical Uniqueness” as its design concept.
The flowing, low-tailed shape reminds us of a Porsche once more. Although the front and rear bumpers are quite crowded. The sloped front windscreen and the Hyundai emblem are grafted below the forward-dipping hood, which heightens the visual drama. With patterns in the headlamp, taillight, rear wing brake light, air vents, and center console offer some visual flair and motion when appropriate. There are over 700 “parametric pixels” dispersed throughout the vehicle.
The Ioniq 6 wasn’t just made to look good by Hyundai. With a low nose and a sleek design, the automobile can glide through the breeze with little resistance. This is crucial for improving the economy and the electric range. The Ioniq 6 is said by Hyundai to have an extremely low drag coefficient of just 0.21. Its low nose, front active air flaps, wheel gap reducers, and optional compact digital side mirrors all contribute to this.
Hyundai Ioniq 6 Electric Range And Technical Details
Hyundai is holding off on disclosing the Ioniq 6’s technical details until later in the year. But we do know that it utilizes the same E-GMP architecture and technology. The Ioniq 6 will probably be available with a variety of battery packs. Ranging in size from 58 kWh to 77.4 kWh, just like other vehicles on the E-GMP flat-floored architecture.
Dual-motor all-wheel drive will be available as an option. Also, a single-motor arrangement and rear-wheel drive being the norm. Given that, the vehicle has a more streamlined appearance than the three upright E-GMP-based vehicles now on the market. The largest battery should provide a range of more than 381 miles.
The Hyundai Ioniq 6's Breathtaking Interior Is Unparalleled
The Ioniq 6 continues the tradition of futuristic styling that has distinguished Hyundai’s IONIQ line of vehicles in particular. In contrast to the Ioniq 5, which introduced a “living room” cabin feel, the Ioniq 6 features a “human-centric” layout. A stunning, roomy interior with plenty of space for five people awaits you when you step inside the Ioniq 6. Despite the curving roofline’s slight reduction in the headroom. The back compartment is surprisingly spacious.
“Ioniq 6 connects an emotional convergence of functionality with aesthetics,” Head of the Hyundai Design Center and executive vice president, SangYup Lee commented. “The distinctive streamlined design is the result of close cooperation between engineers and designers, with obsessive attention to detail and customer-centric values at the core. We have created the Ioniq 6 as a mindful cocoon that offers personalized places for all.”
To that end, an ambient lighting palette of 64 colors and six dual-color themes are available to users. The steering wheel has four interactive dots on it as well. The key feature of the design is the modular touchscreen dashboard. Which combines a pair of 12-inch infotainment touchscreen into one display. That is set above a strip of air ducts that spans the width of the dashboard. According to Hyundai, the Ioniq 6’s body is painted with pigment paint. That is made from bamboo charcoal and reused pigment paint made from end-of-life tires. Hyundai picked sustainable materials for the cabin. Among them are carpets manufactured from used fishnets and fabric produced from plastic water bottles.
It all comes together for a cabin that's got a story to tell, and will likely be of a very high quality, if the Ioniq 5 is anything to go by. Which means that the Hyundai Ioniq 6 should definitely have a successful run ahead of it, and keep Tesla in check.