Hyundai's IONIQ electric sedan is up for rebranding and will debut next year as the South Korean company's answer to Tesla. Starting in 2021, the IONIQ line will roll out sedans and crossovers that Hyundai described as offerings "dedicated to battery electric vehicles."
The new thrust that Hyundai is ushering in focuses "a new era of electrified mobility." The vision that the company is selling revolves around the electric vehicle as a modern lifestyle experience - mobile and always connected at the same time.
The juicy details on the planned vehicle releases were withheld for now but Hyundai has uncloaked the specific model to anticipate, namely the IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, and IONIQ 7. According to Electrek, the naming scheme pointed to the odd numbers as SUV or crossover builds and the even numbers as sedan models.
All these vehicles when ready for driving will make use of Hyundai's proprietary Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), which according to the company will deliver fast-charging capability and long-range driving at the same time.
The IONIQ brand is billed to transform the EV driving experience, which is both ultra-modern and eco-friendly.
The report noted that Hyundai's IONIQ will not start from scratch as the existing electric sedan of the line has already won rave reviews. It is certainly not a close competitor to the Tesla EVs but the IONIQ has so far impressed with its high level of efficiency.
This has to be the benchmark that all upcoming IONIQ models will pick up from and Hyundai is clear on one thing - the EVS to come out will represent a huge jump from the existing line. For instance, the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 7 are SUV options that will boast of power with touches of classic and modernity.
Engadget said the IONIQ 7 is bound to be the all-electric and full-pledged SUV of the line, whose chief emphasis is beastly power jammed into modern packaging. The loudest hint from Hyundai about this EV is it will be a monstrous SUV with all the modern trappings and functionalities.
The tempered version is the IONIQ 5 that is teased to please as a retro-inspired crossover, likely to be preferred by EV users who favor non-screaming build and features.
As already indicated, the IONIQ 6 is Hyundai's all-electric sedan that is believed to be the realization of the "Prophecy" concept car that Hyundai promised will be mass-produced soon. This EV is projected to hit the road starting in 2022.
If the plan will be followed as intended, the IONIQ 5 will be launched early next year while the bigger IONIQ 7 will see the light of the day in 2024. The exact release dates and pricing for all three IONIQ models are expected to be announced soon.
