Hyundai is all set to launch its first dedicated hybrid model, the Ioniq, sometime next year. To be available in one body style, the car will get a choice of three powertrains – all-electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid.
To be built on a brand-new platform, shared with the new Kia Nero, the manufacturer claims to have optimised the Ioniq’s chassis to deliver "responsive handling while remaining efficient in each of its three powertrain configurations".
The all-electric Ioniq will draw power from lithium-ion batteries. In the plug-in hybrid variant, the electric motor will be joined by a petrol motor. In the hybrid form, the petrol motor will also be used to charge the batteries. Though Hyundai hasn’t revealed the displacement for the engine, our sister publication Autocar UK understands that it will be a 1.6-litre petrol motor.
The Ioniq is set to make its public debut in Korea in January 2016, before being showcased at the Geneva motor show in March.
Head of Hyundai Motor R&D Center Woong-Chul Yang said, “We are proud to advance our eco-friendly car line-up with the introduction of the Ioniq. Our vision for future mobility focuses on choice, with a variety of powertrain options to suit customers’ varied lifestyles, without compromising on design or driving enjoyment. Ioniq embodies Hyundai Motor’s vision to shift the automotive paradigm and future mobility; Ioniq is the fruit of our efforts to become the leader in the global green car market.”
Plans for Hyundai’s all-new dedicated hybrid sedan go way back to 2010, when the Blue-Will concept car powered by a 1.6-litre engine in conjunction with a 134bhp electric motor was showcased.
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