Hyundai has finally given an official look at its upcoming Ioniq 6 electric vehicle, a sedan that was first teased as a sketch earlier this month and will sit below the Ioniq 5 electric SUV in the company's lineup. The South Korean company, which was recently rumored as Apple's contract manufacturing partner for its highly anticipated self-driving electric car, took its first solid stab at the EV market with the Ioniq 5, which is sold in four models.
Starting at $37,350 with the federal EV tax credit in tow, the electric SUV is already a lot more affordable than the Tesla Model 3, one of the world's highest-selling cars. But if one were to go by the design, it is not a rival to Tesla's entry-level car. When Hyundai first started dropping teasers for its next EV, the market went abuzz with speculations that a true Model 3 rival in the sedan form factor from Hyundai's Ioniq line was coming.
Well, the veil has officially been lifted from the Ioniq 6. Taking design cues from the stunning Prophecy concept that was showcased back in 2020, Hyundai is categorizing its latest EV as an Electrified Streamliner. The company is yet to reveal the asking price of its sleek EV, but as per an ArsTechnica report, it will be more affordable than the Ioniq 5. And that means Hyundai's next car will hit the roads as a cheaper and better-looking alternative to the Tesla Model 3, which is no longer eligible for the Federal EV Tax credit worth up to $7,500. Talking about the design, the carmaker has thrown around fancy terms like "cocoon-like interior" and "Emotional Efficiency" to describe the looks of Ioniq 6. However, it is hard to look past the similarities with Volkswagen's redesigned Beetle, which the company finally discontinued in 2019 after a legendary run.
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The standout design elements include functional air flaps on the front, digital side mirrors, an elliptical spoiler and a minimalist rear combination lamp. Based on the in-house Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) that also lends its services to the Genesis GV60 EV, Hyundai claims that the Ioniq 6's interior profile has been stretched, paving the way for a more spacious vehicle with increased legroom and a flat floor. In addition, the control unit is positioned dead center, offering a 12-inch dashboard for infotainment controls and another 12-inch screen real estate serving as the digital cluster. Hyundai is also upping the ante for interior aesthetics with two-tone ambient lighting, allowing users to pick from 64 colors and a total of six dual-color themes.
The steering wheel features what Hyundai calls four-dot Interactive Pixel Lights for car key vehicle controls. With the Ioniq 6, Hyundai is also addressing the sustainability aspect of its latest EV on the inside as well as outside. It used recycled pigment made from bamboo charcoal extract, recycled PET fabric for the seats, a dashboard covered in bio TPO skin and paint derived from fishing net materials and vegetable oils. Hyundai aims to kickstart the mass production next month in Korea and has set aside July 14 as the date for an official reveal. Expect to hear more about the electric sedan's eventual arrival in the U. S. at the unveiling next month.
Sources: Hyundai, ArsTechnica