The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has been confirmed for a reveal in “early 2021”. It will be the first of three EVs set to fall under the Korean automaker’s new, fully electric sub-brand – Ioniq – in the next four years. Each model will use a numerical naming strategy, similar to Volkswagen’s ID line-up. Odd numbers will be used for SUVs and even numbers for sedans and other models.
- Ioniq 5 to be based on the 45 Concept
- Car’s batteries will also be capable of sending power to the grid or home
- Hyundai EV to feature fast-charging capability
Hyundai Ioniq 5: What’s new?
The 2021 Ioniq 5 will be a compact crossover based on the radical Hyundai 45 Concept from last year’s Frankfurt motor show. New details of the car confirmed by Hyundai include three ‘extras’ it will launch with. The first is vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology – bi-directional charging that allows owners to use the car’s batteries to store energy and then discharge it back to the national grid, or the home, when it is required during peak demand times.
The second is fast-charging capability, although the Korean firm is yet to detail the exact charging speeds the car is capable of. The third is the car’s “soon-to-be-announced array of features”.
The Ioniq 5 will be followed in 2022 by the Ioniq 6 electric sports sedan, which will take cues from the low-slung Hyundai Prophecy concept. A large, as yet unseen SUV called the Ioniq 7 will land in 2024.
The final production designs of all three remain under wraps. However, Hyundai has previously said it plans for each to have a distinctive and different design, but they will all feature pixel headlights, as seen on the 45 and Prophecy concepts.
Hyundai Ioniq 5: Technical details
Each of the upcoming EVs will sit atop the brand’s all-new Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), which is said to be capable of fast charging and a long range. With a long wheelbase and a flat floor, it also allows for each model to have a spacious interior, which, Hyundai says, will be modelled on “smart living rooms”.
The company also says all Ioniq-branded models will offer enhanced connectivity features "to integrate in-car and out-of-car experiences for a seamless journey".
Hyundai EV strategy
Notably, the Hyundai Ioniq EV, which we drove last year, will not form part of the new model range, suggesting it will either be renamed or replaced entirely.
By 2025, Hyundai intends to launch 16 new EVs to increase its annual EV sales to more than half a million – the equivalent of just over 10 percent of its total sales in 2019. As a whole, the Hyundai Motor Group is aiming to achieve a 5 percent global automotive market share and transition to be a 'smart mobility solution provider', rather than purely a car manufacturer.
Hyundai EV plans for India
Hyundai forayed into the EV space in India last year with the Kona Electric, which is currently priced at Rs 23.76-23.95 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The crossover features a 136hp motor at the front axle and packs in a 39.2kWh battery pack which is capable of delivering a claimed range of 452km in ideal conditions.
Hyundai has made no official announcement about its intentions of bringing the Ioniq sub-brand to India, however, a Hyundai mass-market EV for our market is under development and is expected to be launched in the next two years.
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