The IONIQ will ride on an all-new platform that was specifically designed for Hyundai’s three-headed drivetrain strategy.
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In its electric-only EV form, the Ioniq will be powered by a high-capacity, ultra-efficient lithium ion battery.
Autocar suggest it will be shown fully in January in its Korean home market, before its European debut in March, and claim that it is no surprise Hyundai are keen to get a dedicated hybrid model on sale considering the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
Hyundai has given us a glimpse of the Ioniq, a brand new hybrid due to launch in 2016 in Korea that will be on show at the Geneva International Motor Show.
Clearly the 2016 Toyota Prius’ 50/54 mpg city/highway rating is the all-important efficiency benchmark, yet the Hyundai Ioniq is said to arrive with class-leading fuel economy.
A teaser image of Hyundai’s new Ioniq depicts a black compact vehicle with a triangular silhouette, lowered front hood and raised rear deck.
The plug-in hybrid version combines fuel and battery power, boosting the vehicle’s range and keeping emissions at the lowest levels.
“Our vision of future mobility focuses on choice, with a variety of powertrain options to suit customers’ varied lifestyles, without compromising on design or driving enjoyment”, said Hyundai R&D head Woong-Chul Yang, in a statement.
If you are asking yourself what’s with the name, you should know that IONIQ indicates elements of its creation.
But Hyundai is so confident of its own car’s uniqueness, it worked the word “unique” into the second part of the nameplate’s moniker. An ion is an electrically-charged atom, linking to the car’s clever combination of electrified powertrains.
Using two motors (as Ford, GM, and Honda also do) allows one motor to provide torque to the drive wheels while the other acts as a generator, recharging the battery from either excess engine power or regenerative braking. It will be available with electric, plug-in gasoline/electric hybrid, or gasoline/electric hybrid powertrains. In 2013, Hyundai Motor became the first auto manufacturer to mass-produce a hydrogen-fueled vehicle, the Tucson Fuel Cell (ix35 Fuel Cell in some markets).
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The IONIQ will greet the public for the first time in the United States at the NY auto show.
