Hyundai’s new electric brand will offer a full range of cars in Australia, as rivals battle to get their hands on hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles.
The new Ioniq brand will launch with the Ioniq 5 next year. It’ll be followed by the Ioniq 6, a sedan based on the slinky Prophecy concept, in 2022. The Ioniq 7 is a large SUV, and will launch in 2024.
Hyundai Australia senior manager of future mobility, Scott Nargar, has confirmed the full Ioniq line-up range will be available in Australia as soon as possible.
Mr Nargar confirmed the first vehicles will be sold through the same Hyundai dealers currently selling the Kona and Ioniq electric, before the footprint gradually expands.
The car designed to kickstart Hyundai’s new brand, the 2021 Ioniq 5, will have Tesla-rivalling range and all-wheel drive.
Set to touch down in Australia during 2021, it will offer up to 550km of all-electric range on the tougher WLTP test with the larger 73kWh battery option, and 450km with the smaller 58kWh battery according to Korean Car Blog.
Tesla claims the Model 3 Standard Range will cover 490km on a charge.
Details published by Hyundai Austria and reported by KCB show the Ioniq 5 will have dual-motor all-wheel drive when it launches, and a combined 230kW of power. It’ll be good for a 5.2-second sprint to 100km/h.
Measuring 4630mm long, 1890mm wide and 1600mm tall on a 3000mm wheelbase, the Ioniq 5 is identical in length to the new Tucson and 15mm wider, although the electric car has a lower roofline by 65mm and a 245mm longer wheelbase.
Meanwhile, rivals such as Volkswagen are struggling to get their hands on the latest electric vehicles being sold in Europe and Asia because of Australia’s relaxed emissions standards.
The Volkswagen ID.4 electric SUV and ID.3 hatchback won’t be here until late in 2023 as VW head office prioritises supply for markets such as Europe, where electric vehicles are essential to meeting strict emissions standards.
Australia currently misses out on other electric vehicles such as the Honda E, Renault Zoe, Kia E-Niro, and Citroen e-C4.
