Technical specifications have been confirmed for the all-new Hyundai Ioniq 6 which arrives in Australia early 2023.
The latest and most striking entrant into Hyundai’s expanding bespoke EV family is the new Ioniq 6 which will go on sale in Australia in early 2023.
With an expected price starting from around $70,000, it will bring a unique option into the EV segment at an attractive price point. At 4855mm long, 1880mm wide and 1495mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2950mm, it is a close match in size for the Tesla Model 3 – as well as the Polestar 2 and BMW i4.
The model will come with a range of drivetrains, including front and all-wheel drive, and up to 610km of driving range (spec dependant).
The new model, nicknamed the Electric Streamliner by Hyundai, uses much of the same technology as the brand’s award-winning Ioniq 5 crossover, including its E-GMP platform, which can be fitted with either a 58 or 77.4 kWh battery pack. However, by using the very latest technology and with its super-slippery shape (it has a drag co-efficient of just 0.21Cd), the Ioniq 6 can beat the most efficient Ioniq 5’s maximum claimed range by more than 100km.
Things could get even better for the Ioniq 6 with software-over-the-air updates that could increase the range further. Speaking to Automotive Daily at the technical unveiling of the car in advance of the Busan Motor Show in Korea, Thomas Schemera, Hyundai’s Executive Vice President, Global Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Customer Experience Division, told us, “Software over the air will allow us to update key control systems, including the battery control system, for even better performance and enhance the ownership experience for customers.”
The Ioniq 6 is set to arrive in Australian showrooms Q1 2023, and although prices and specifications have yet to be announced, Automotive Daily expects the car to cost not much more than its Ioniq 5 sibling.
That could mean a starting price of around $70,000 for the entry-level front-wheel-drive version, and rising for the top-spec 77.4kWh battery model with all-wheel drive, 325kW, 605Nm of torque and a 0-100km/h time of just 5.1 seconds.
Hyundai’s E-GMP architecture can support both 400V and 800V charging, with 800V charging as standard. Using a 350kW charger, the Ioniq 6 can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes.
When it arrives, the Ioniq 6 will be pitched into battle against the likes of the Tesla Model 3 and the Polestar 2. However, the Ioniq has one ace up its sleeve: rear space.
At 4855mm it’s longer than its main rivals, including the Tesla, and with a wheelbase of 2950mm it offers impressive rear space. A six-foot-tall rear passenger can sit behind a similarly sized driver with considerably more kneeroom than in rivals, while the sloping roofline doesn’t impinge on headroom, either
However, unlike some rivals, the Ioniq 6 is a sedan only, with a narrow opening for luggage, while Hyundai hasn’t yet revealed details of the boot’s overall capacity.
The Ioniq 6’s dash follows a similar theme to the 5 with dual 12-inch infotainment and driver display screens on the dashboard. There are additional screens sitting in wings at each end of the dash, too, for the camera system that can replace traditional door mirrors.
The car’s electric window switches are located in the centre console to provide a slim and clutter-free door panel that can be cleverly lit with reflected patterns in up to 64 colours. A Speed Sync Lighting mode can change the brightness of the interior lighting in the front of the cabin based on the car’s speed, too.
Further gadgetry includes an EV Performance Tune-up system, which allows the driver to tweak steering effort, electric motor power, accelerator pedal sensitivity and driveline modes. And e-ASD, a sound technology, changes the spaceship-like sound inside the car based on the vehicle’s driving status.
Automotive Daily expects an Ioniq 6 N model to join the line-up at some stage, too. Although Hyundai wouldn’t confirm a performance version, an Ioniq 6 N model could also link nicely to the Ioniq 6 replacing the Veloster N in the all-electric ETCR e-Touring Car World Cup racing series.
Automotive Daily
Keyword: Hyundai Ioniq 6 EV going on sale in Australia