By: Nick Gambino
While they won’t win the prize for Best EV Name (that probably goes to Tesla), Hyundai is looking to make a statement with their newest electric car. They gave us our first look at the upcoming IONIQ 6 this week.
Expected in 2023, the Hyundai IONIQ 6 is easily the most futuristic-looking EV we’ve seen so far. And that’s by design. They hinted at the EV when they showed off the Prophecy prototype in 2020, but this newest iteration has been reined in so as to not scare off those who just want a somewhat normal-looking car and not something out of every sci-fi movie of the 21st century.
The IONIQ 6 does away with much of the glitz and glamor of the Prophecy Concept and opts for cleaner, simpler lines but still an aerodynamic body. Note the low nose, active air flaps and reducers for wheel gap. Even the spoiler and undercarriage are designed with aerodynamics in mind.
Let’s not negate the importance of Hyundai prioritizing aerodynamics. This new EV will have a drag coefficient of 0.21. For comparison, your average car comes in around 0.25 or 0.3. That means more battery charge for your buck. Tesla doesn’t even match that currently.
This is a perfect example of how they’re trying to effortlessly combine aesthetics with functionality. Something auto/EV makers tend to fall short on.
“IONIQ 6 connects an emotional convergence of functionality with aesthetics,” SangYup Lee, the Executive VP and Head of Hyundai Design Center, said in a press release. “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 [a] personalized place for all.”
The interior is actually cocoon-shaped. That wasn’t just an analogy. They were able to stretch the interiors for more legroom. We might know that, but it doesn’t mean we know much more about the car. Though, the press release does drop a few other small details.
We don’t yet have a detailed spec list on the IONIQ 6. We can only go off their last EV, the IONIQ 5 and assume it’ll be better across the boards. The 5 topped out at 300 miles per full charge with 320hp and the ability to go 0-60 MPH in just under 5 seconds.
I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from Hyundai in the near future as they open up pre-orders for a release in the first half of 2023.
