Everything we know about the Hyundai Ioniq 7 in April 2022 [Update]

Update: ‘Local production’ sub-section of the ‘Release Date’ section updated.

Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) plans to release the Hyundai Ioniq 6 sedan this year and then the Hyundai Ioniq 7 SUV in 2024. Both the new electric vehicles will be crucial for its U.S. operations. Here’s everything we know about the upcoming flagship Ioniq model:

Ioniq 6 & 7 in the spotlight

Jose Munoz, President, and CEO, Hyundai Motor North America, said that the Hyundai Ioniq 6 will be a mid-size sedan. The Hyundai Ioniq 7 will be a mid-size SUV (as per U.S. classification). They would be comparable to the Sonata and the Santa Fe from its traditional ICE vehicle line-up. Moreover, Munoz confirmed that the Hyundai Ioniq 7 would be a three-row SUV. The revelations don’t differ from the speculation, but it’s nice to get the confirmation as we can now list them as facts.

We will follow the exciting Ioniq 5 compact CUV with the stunning Ioniq 6 mid-size sedan next year and the Ioniq 7 three-row mid-size SUV in 2024, and that is just the beginning. Hyundai will introduce 23 battery electric vehicles worldwide by 2025.

Jose Munoz, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor North America (Ioniq 5 U.S. debut)

A report from The Korea Times (dated February 2, 2021) had suggested that the Hyundai Ioniq 7 will arrive ahead of schedule. According to the Korean English language paper, Hyundai plans to launch the large electric SUV in 2023. It had also revealed that the Ioniq 7 would likely come with SK Innovation battery packs (with pouch cells) as part of the third batch. Munoz’s new statement indicates that the Ioniq 7 will not be released earlier than planned.

On the E-GMP Platform

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 7 will ride on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). The dedicated electric vehicle platform allows 10-80% rapid charging in just 18 minutes. 800-volt battery voltage and 350 kW charging capacity are the peak technical parameters the platform allows. Both the sedan and the SUV should realize the E-GMP to its maximum potential.

According to a report from Yonhap News, HMG has sold more than 100,000 EVs based on the E-GMP platform already. The company sold 96,578 units of E-GMP EVs between April and December 2021 and then 1,000 more in the first three weeks of January 2022. HMG plans to offer 11 EVs based on the E-GMP platform, and it has launched three of them so far – Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Genesis GV60, all of which are compact SUVs.

The Hyundai Ioniq 7 will have an EPA-estimated range of over 300 miles. The picture showing a low-roof model is a teaser of the Ioniq 6. Image Source: Hyundai

During the online presentation of the E-GMP architecture in December 2020, HMG slyly teased the Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 7, showing their outlines in the form of suspended art. The silhouette showed a raised fastback-styled sedan and then cut to a large SUV with traditional proportions while elaborating on the platform layout and variable width, overhang, and wheelbase composition that can be applied to multiple segments.

Ioniq was just a name of a car, but with the launch of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 in 2021, it has transitioned to Hyundai’s sub-brand. The Ioniq 5 may be the most advanced Hyundai model so far, but many of its key features are available in other cars. The premium Hyundai Ioniq 6 & Hyundai Ioniq 7 models, currently in the pipeline, would be more innovative, as we explain in this story.

eM platform

The Ioniq 7 will likely be the largest and most advanced model coming off the Electric Global Modular Platform. From 2025, Hyundai will start using Integrated Module Architecture (IMA), a further developed version of the E-GMP. The South Korean automaker is preparing IMA in two versions, eM for passenger vehicles and eS for Purpose Built Vehicles (PBVs).

The eM platform enables a greater degree of commonalization compared to E-GMP through standard modules. Unlike E-GMP EVs, eM EVs will have standardized battery systems. Another difference will be that the battery packs will be devoid of modules and be built with the cell-to-pack method that improves energy density. The cell-to-frame method is also under consideration. Hyundai will use not only NCM cells but also LFP cells from this point. The motors will be standardized, too, similarly bringing more synergies between the products.

Hyundai Ioniq 7 – Hyundai’s flagship electric SUV in the making

The Hyundai Ioniq 7 will be a mid-size SUV like the Santa Fe, seating 6-7 occupants. No less than 100,000 Santa Fes are sold every year in the United States. Even in challenging years like 2021, 112,071 units found homes, making it the third-best-selling Hyundai in America. So, a snazzier mid-size SUV with revolutionary technologies and zero tailpipe emission should be a strategic launch for the growth of the Hyundai brand in the region.

Space & road presence

The Hyundai Ioniq 7 will be an interesting amalgamation of traditional SUV styling with modern SUV characteristics. It will sit close to the ground and feature a sloping roofline and a slightly hunched tail section like crossovers. An upright, brawny nose, a flattish hood, squarish wheel arches, a straight beltline, chunky six-spoke alloy wheels, and vertical headlights and rear lights will contrast with that crossover styling, mimicking proper SUVs.

The production model should feature flush door handles, and the ORVMs would be camera-based digital units. Local regulations would dictate the availability of digital mirrors.

The Hyundai Ioniq 7 will look tough yet very futuristic, as represented in our exclusive render. Expect Hyundai designers to take after the Ioniq 5’s transition from the 45 Concept, preserving much of the concept’s exterior

With the Ioniq 5, Hyundai has proved that it can design production EVs very close to their concept versions and still offer them at reasonable prices. So, as radical as the Seven concept (detailed in the next section) may look, the Ioniq 7 might not be very far from it. Munoz straight out told MotorTrend that the production version would be “pretty close,” so close that we’ll be “amazed.”

Our exclusive rendering (above) shows the Hyundai’s flagship EV in a production-ready state. We’ve tweaked the front lights with a higher focus on illumination and range than styling, cast new bumpers with provision for the electronics, modified the bonnet and sidewall to accommodate an accessible frunk, swapped the retractable side mirrors with fixed digital mirrors, replaced the pillarless coach doors with regular doors featuring flush-fitted handles, rims inspired by the Prophecy and Seven Concept vehicles, added a charging port, shark fin antenna, and new rocker panels for realism. We also chose a different body color that is neither the stereotypical blue color or the concept’s green shade.

Hyundai Seven Concept

The Seven Concept has a 3.2m wheelbase. It achieves this by pushing the wheels outward in order to extend its wheelbase as much as possible.

The Hyundai Seven concept, the biggest premiere at the 2021 LA Auto Show, will morph into the Hyundai Ioniq 7 in 2024. The Seven concept is a fine mix of traditionally boxy and modern aerodynamic SUVs, presented with the brand’s latest EV design cue – Parametric Pixel lights.

The Hyundai Seven concept has an unmistakable presence with its masculine silhouette. An upright front-end with a full-width DRL strip on the top, a huge rectangular digital frame that consists of vertical headlights on the outer ends, and the clamshell hood make the SUV look aggressive and highly futuristic. The digital frame entirely lits briefly as part of the welcome function.

Video Source: YouTube/HyundaiWorldwide

Simon Loasby, Head of Hyundai Style Group, Hyundai Motor Group talked about the Seven concept’s design with Car And Driver. Loasby said that the Ioniq 7 will carry over the Seven’s pixel light headlights. The production model will feature a flat and translucent cover over the pixel-shaped lights instead of separate lights. The latter would look original and more appealing, but it wouldn’t be as practical, as it accumulates dirt.

A feature of the front-end that won’t make it to production will be the hood-integrated brand logo. It’s easier done on plastic panels, like that of the concept, than on sheet metal. Loasby also revealed that the production model will feature a frunk (front trunk) for extra cargo space. He confirmed that the concept’s all-glass tailgate would not make it to the Ioniq 7.

On the sides, Hyundai has used pillarless coach doors on the Seven concept. The roofline flows down noticeably for an SUV this big. That, along with the sleek windows, the sloping shoulder line, and the kick in the long kick in the beltline from behind the rear doors give the SUV contemporary styling. However, the long straight portion of the beltline, the squarish wheel arches, the simplistic surfacing on the doors, and the chunky wheels help it build a tough SUV character overall.

The Hyundai Seven concept’s interior is quite far from what we will see in the production version (Hyundai Ioniq 7). Image Source: Hyundai Motor Group

The Seven concept’s rear-end is just as futuristic as its front section. Parametric Pixel lights cover the periphery of a stunning all-glass tailgate, which features a Hyundai logo in the middle. Up top, the concept has a Vision Roof Display featuring a panoramic OLED screen that can display various content as per the liking of the passengers and even help change the mood of the interior for relaxing.

The pillarless coach doors automatically open to present a lounge-like interior to the occupants. From swiveling lounge chairs, to a lounge bench seat, retractable driving gear, and a digital dashboard, the Seven has many interior features typical of concept EVs. Other interesting details include a moveable console containing a 27-inch display, an aircraft-like air purification system, and eco-friendly materials like bamboo wood, mineral plaster, bio-resin, and more.

Hyundai Seven concept’s interior elements consist of sustainable materials, reflecting the changing lifestyle of the brand’s customers. Image Source: Hyundai Motor Group

Car And Driver has been told the interior of the Seven concept is less representative of the production model’s cabin. Only some elements will appear in the Ioniq 7, like the capsule-shaped cut-outs in the door panels, for instance.

MotorTrend has also received the information that the interior will have extensive changes. SangYup Lee, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Hyundai Design, has said that the company envisioned the Ioniq 7 for the fully-autonomous driving future, and hence the interior “is a little more visionary.” Obvious changes would be a regular steering wheel in place of the retractable one, regular seats instead of lounge seats, and a center console (not present in the concept).

Gil Castillo, senior group manager, Alternative Vehicle and Advanced Vehicle Strategy, Hyundai Motor North America, told MotorTrend that Hyundai can carry over the concept’s Vision Roof Display to the Ioniq 7. However, offering this feature might not make sense now, Castillo said. The company used it in the concept only to explore how far it could stretch to convert EVs into a living space when fully autonomous driving becomes commonplace.

Specifications

A Carscoops report has said that the Hyundai Ioniq 7 will come in two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The all-wheel drive variant will offer a system power of 308 hp. A 100 kWh battery pack will supply electricity to the motor(s), and the car could offer a ground clearance of more than 8 inches.

A report from autohome.com.cn (dated February 9, 2021,) has already said that the battery packs of the Hyundai Ioniq 7 will come from SK Innovation and CATL. HMG conducted vendor bidding for battery packs of three of its EVs, including the Hyundai Ioniq 7, in 2021. South Korea’s SK Innovation and China’s CATL won the bids. CATL already supplies battery packs to two partnership companies of HMG in China, namely Beijing-Hyundai and Dongfeng Yueda Kia.

The Lithium-ion battery cells used in the Hyundai Ioniq 7 will likely have a higher energy density of 700 Wh/L than the Lithium-ion battery cells used in the current Hyundai EVs. Image Source: Hyundai

The Hyundai Ioniq 7 won’t feature solid-state batteries, as for that technology Hyundai needs many more years before commercialization. According to a report from mt.co.kr, Hyundai plans to mass-produce solid-state batteries through a partnership with battery specialists from 2030. That said, the battery used in the Ioniq 7 over its lifecycle would be more advanced than in the Ioniq 5. The company aims to increase the energy density of its Lithium-ion battery cells from 600 Wh/L to 700 Wh/L in 2025.

The Hyundai Ioniq 7 will take the shape of a Santa Fe-class mid-size SUV with an emphasis on the road presence and space. Image Source: Hyundai

Free charging

Customers of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Hyundai Ioniq 7 could be offered one or two years of free unlimited 30-minute charging sessions at Electrify America charging stations in the United States, as is the case with Ioniq 5. By 2024, Electrify America’s network would have significantly expanded from the current 600 charging stations. Electrify America wanted to open 800 charging stations with more than 3,500 ultra-fast chargers or have them in development by the end of 2021.

Features

Wireless charging

The Ioniq 7’s specifications and segment positioning would allow Hyundai to stuff it with advanced features, some that break new ground. A higher ground clearance (typical of a large SUV), for instance, leaves enough room for a transmission unit to generate and transmit electricity for wireless charging of the car. HMG has confirmed that wireless charging for E-GMP platform models is under development. The Ioniq 6 & 7 are the potential candidates to receive the tech after the Genesis GV60.

Video Source: youtube.com/Hyundai Motor Group

Development is still ongoing on both ends, and only after the development is done will we be able to apply the technology to our mass-produced vehicles. The timetable for that application is flexible, dependent on market reactions and changes in the business environment.

Chung Jin-Hwan, Head of Electrification Development Group at the Hyundai Motor Group, on Wireless car charging function in the E-GMP

The Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) provides unmatched structural flexibility to the Hyundai Motor Group and can accommodate vehicles from CUVs to 7-seater SUVs. Image Source: Hyundai

Advanced and recycled materials

Thanks to the premium positioning, it might be possible for Hyundai to use newly developed high-tech materials on the Ioniq 7. One of the many innovative features of the large electric SUV could be paints and trims that serve more than just aesthetics.

“All materials will become functional, whether that’s the paint or the trims inside the car,” Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer, Hyundai, told Autocar. They will communicate and have an additional function, which could be charging. The company is working on this technology “intensively,” Donckerwolke said, and so, it wouldn’t surprise us if it’s ready for commercialization by mid-decade. The Ioniq 7, having the largest surface area, would offer the most gains with a solar roof or body panels that convert light into electricity to charge the battery.

The Hyundai Ioniq 7 should offer a seven-seat seating layout. Hyundai Seven concept pictured for reference. Image Source: Hyundai Motor Group

Several interior touchpoints, such as door trim, headliner, seats, armrest, and floor, could be made from eco-friendly and sustainably sourced materials. Plant-based (bio PET) yarns and natural wool yarns, recycled PET bottles, bio paint with plant extracts, and artificial leather with plant-based extracts could be some of the eco-friendly and sustainably sourced materials.

Highway Driving Pilot

At Hyundai Motor Company (HMC)’s 2022 CEO Investor Day, its President and CEO Jaehoon Chang said that the Genesis G90 will become a Level 3 autonomous driving capable car with Highway Driving Pilot (HDP) in December 2022. This will make the G90 among the first mass-produced car with Level 3 autonomy.

Currently, most vehicles across the globe use Level 2 and Level 2+ semi-autonomous systems, and both Mercedes and BMW will introduce Level 3 cars this year. The platform sharing Ioniq 7 will most likely feature Level 3 autonomous driving technology.

Level 3 autonomy allows drivers to do other activities; however, it’s conditional, and drivers must be ready to take over if required. The system uses Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), various AI systems, and onboard sensors. LIDAR is a crucial component of autonomy. According to a report from The Korea Economic Daily, Hyundai will install LIDAR sensors on all Level 3 cars, and the same can be expected in the Ioniq 7.

The lower variants of the Ioniq 7 should have semi-autonomous driving features of the Hyundai Ioniq 5. The electric crossover comes with Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDAII), Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), and many more advanced driver assistance systems. Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) that lets the driver remotely park or exit a parking spot for parallel and perpendicular parking should also be included in the list of autonomous driving functions.

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Hyundai Ioniq 7 may come with Highway Driving Pilot for Level 3 autonomous driving. Image Source: Hyundai

Hyundai says that in Level 3, “the car is able to manage safety functions under certain conditions, but the driver is expected to take over when alerted.” The Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Hyundai Ioniq 7 should benefit from this feature when they are ready for deployment.

Additionally, on February 16, 2022, Pulse News reported that Korean carmakers are bracing for the rollout of Level 3 autonomous cars by improving cybersecurity. With connected car technology and the high computing capabilities of new cars, it’s imperative to establish a secure digital ecosystem for autonomous vehicles. Hence, cybersecurity solutions have an increasing demand.

Pulse says that HMG has created a task force to address this concern. It has already earned a certificate for cybersecurity and management systems (CSMS) to comply with United Nations Economic Commission (UNECE) R-155 regulation for new cars starting July 2022. Hyundai and Kia are on track to win cybersecurity licenses for other global markets, including the United States.

Autonomous Parking with RSPA2

Apart from autonomous driving, the Ioniq 7 may offer the convenience of autonomous parking. It could feature the company’s Remote Smart Parking Assist 2 (RSPA 2) in its most developed version. Chang said at HMC’s 2022 CEO Investor Day that RSPA 2 will get updated through OTA and HMC will continue its development to provide remote parking function.

New infotainment system

All Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis models, starting this year, will feature a new ‘NVIDIA DRIVE’ connected car platform as standard. This will apply to the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Hyundai Ioniq 7. NVIDIA DRIVE includes a hardware and software stack, and it allows HMG’s infotainment systems to merge connectivity, navigation, audio, video, and AI-based connected car services. HMG and NVIDIA planned to release the advanced integrated digital cockpit towards the end of 2021, but that didn’t happen.

The NVIDIA DRIVE platform-based infotainment systems will feature HMG’s next ‘connected car operation system (ccOS).’ The in-house developed OS will use NVIDIA’s software frameworks. The partnership with NVIDIA would allow HMG to build a high-tech interior in the Ioniq 6 & Ioniq 7.

The Ioniq 7 could come with a new connected car suite instead of the Ioniq 5’s Bluelink. A report from Maeil Economic Daily says that HMG plans to integrate the connected car systems of all three passenger vehicle brands into one. The Hyundai Bluelink, Kia Connect (UVO), and Genesis Connected will be clubbed into a single connected car technology. The report hasn’t offered a specific timeframe for the new connectivity solution.

Digital Key

Besides the Level 3 autonomous driving with Hyundai Driving Pilot, a highlight of the Hyundai Ioniq 7 could be the next-gen Digital Key. Hyundai’s current Digital Key technology allows users to unlock and start their Hyundai via their smartphone. The Digital Key is downloaded via a smartphone application and can be used by up to four authorized people.

Currently, the user needs to hold the smartphone with the Digital Key against the driver or front passenger door handle to unlock the car. The Hyundai Ioniq 7 would come with the more advanced Digital Key 3.0 that needs the user’s smartphone to be in enough proximity to the vehicle for a specific time period to unlock the doors. It provides passive access where the user would not need to lift the smartphone out of the pocket or bag.

V2L (Vehicle to Load)

One of the first features of the Ioniq that 5 Hyundai featured in its marketing campaign was V2L. This utility feature should be available even in the Ioniq 7. V2L allows using the electrical energy stored inside the vehicle’s battery pack to power external devices like domestic appliances, camping equipment, consumer electronics, etc. With V2L, one can also charge another EV’s battery pack.

In the U.S., the peak power available in the Ioniq 5 for V2L functions is 1.9 kW instead of 3.6 kW globally.

Vision roof

The Hyundai Ioniq 7 could feature a large panoramic sunroof called ‘Vision roof.’ The mid-size electric SUV’s ceiling may consist of one large glass panel without cross members so that the occupants can enjoy an uninterrupted view of the night sky.

Virtual mirrors

In some markets, including South Korea, where regulations permit, Hyundai will offer the Ioniq 7 with virtual mirrors. Cameras are mounted in place of traditional mirrors made of glass, and their feed is displayed on two screens mounted, usually on the front door panels or the corner of the dashboard/A-pillars.

Fingerprint reader

The Hyundai Ioniq 7 will likely feature a fingerprint reader for biometric authentication. HMG uses this technology in the Chinese-spec Santa Fe, the GV70, and the GV60. It may offer a more advanced version in the Ioniq 7, as the model is two years away from dealer showrooms.

Release Date

The showroom-ready Hyundai Ioniq 7 will likely debut in the second half of 2023 and go on sale worldwide in 2024.

U.S. production

Hyundai Motor Group has announced that it will make electric vehicles in the United States. The company will invest a whopping USD 7.4 billion in the country by 2025 to manufacture future EVs, improve production facilities, and increase investments in smart mobility solutions. The Ioniq 7 is likely to be part of the family of Hyundai EVs made stateside.

Hyundai is evaluating options for new dedicated EV factories around the world, Jaehoon Chang said at the company’s 2022 CEO Investor Day. He reaffirmed U.S. production of EVs, saying that the company will announce the details of its U.S. electrification-related investment and production plans in the near future.

In the U.S., HMG will start local EV production with the addition of the Genesis Electrified GV70 to the existing Hyundai Montgomery plant in Alabama. Production of the Genesis EV will commence in December 2022, and in 2024, the Hyundai Ioniq 7 could start rolling out of the same factory. Details about the future EVs planned for U.S. production could emerge this year when the Hyundai Ioniq 6 debuts. For now, the Electrified GV70 is the only EV HMG has formally confirmed for U.S. production.

Ioniq subscription

HMG has confirmed that American Hyundai dealers will offer an Ioniq subscription service in the future. The Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, and Ioniq 7 should be available to subscribe to in the U.S. An all-inclusive monthly payment would cover the vehicle, insurance, and maintenance costs and provide customers with a more convenient, low-risk way of owning their preferred Ioniq model. The subscription tenure options could start from one month.

China and United States are expected to be the biggest market for the Hyundai Ioniq 7 worldwide, and the Biden administration is likely to incentivize locally-manufactured EVs significantly. HMG may produce both Ioniq crossovers stateside and export them to several markets, starting with Canada.

HMG pruning gasoline/diesel models

Like most other well-established automakers, Hyundai Motor Group plans to transition to zero-emission models by the next decade. According to an Automotive News article, the company plans to sell 1.7 million units of (Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis) EVs in 2026. In some markets, localizing EVs would be the key to achieving strong sales. As we said in the Release Date section, U.S. production is in the planning stage.

Citing Chang, Automotive News’ report said that details about Hyundai U.S. EV production will become available this year. HMC will develop a new bespoke EV platform that allows expanding its EV line-up to 13 models. This will be its second dedicated EV platform after the E-GMP. HMC expects 220,000 Hyundai and Genesis EV sales this year and sees the second bespoke EV platform as a sign of its bullishness with respect to EVs.

Chang indicated that HMC will gradually end the development of internal combustion engines. We’ve known for a while that parent company HMG is chalking out this plan. In an exclusive report on May 27, 2021, Reuters said HMG has decided to reduce the number of combustion engine models in its line-up by 50%.

Reducing the focus on combustion engine models will allow HMG to strengthen future-forward product categories like battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles. The company later said in a statement that it set a goal for achieving 100% electrification in main EV markets like the U.S., China, and European countries electrification by 2040.

At the 2021 Munich Motor Show (IAA 2021) on September 6, 2021, Hyundai (the brand) renewed its commitment to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by announcing that it will stop selling internal combustion engine vehicles and all types of hybrid vehicles before 2035 in Europe. From 2035 on, the company will sell solely zero-emission vehicles in the region. The ZEVs will comprise a mix of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), with the former contributing the highest to the sales.

Converting 100% of Hyundai’s sales to EVs in the U.S. will likely take more time than in Europe. However, Chang has told Automotive News that the company needs to increase the share of its EVs in its sales in the country to 50% by 2030.

Expanding its clean mobility fleet is one of three pillars of Hyundai’s carbon-neutrality strategy, the other two pillars being the development of next-generation platforms and investing in green energy solutions and technologies. The second includes investing in future-forward transport platforms such as urban air mobility vehicles and robotaxis. The third aims to provide eco-friendly energy solutions such as carbon reduction at production facilities, Second Life Battery Energy Storage System (SLBESS), and producing green hydrogen.

Hyundai Ioniq 7 FAQs

What is the Hyundai Ioniq 7 release date?

The production-spec Hyundai electric SUV is expected to be revealed in 2023, though the company maintains an early 2024 launch.

What would be considered the Hyundai Ioniq 7 rivals?

The Hyundai Ioniq 7 will compete with the VW ID.6 SUV and the BYD Tang EV.

What will be Hyundai Ioniq 7 range & price?

Hyundai has confirmed a 300+ mile range for the SUV. The Ioniq 7’s price should start at USD 50,000-55,000.

Featured image: Hyundai/Youtube

Keyword: Everything we know about the Hyundai Ioniq 7 in April 2022 [Update]