First it was Genesis, now it’s Ioniq.
Hyundai has taken another badge from its range and turned it into a standalone brand, this time the Ioniq label previously reserved for its Prius-rivalling hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and pure electric fastbacks.
The new badge will be applied to the upcoming range of Hyundai electric vehicles, which will be led by a production version of the 45 EV concept, to be called the Ioniq 5.
Unlike the low-riding hatchback concept, Hyundai says the production car will be a CUV. In other words, expect another small SUV.
It’s on track to arrive in Australia during 2021. Expect the Ioniq range to be sold through regular Hyundai dealerships, not a standalone network of showrooms like luxury offshoot Genesis.
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.
Underpinning the new electric family is the Hyundai Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP).
Unlike the modified internal-combustion platform underpinning the Ioniq range, Kona Electric, and related Kia e-Niro, the E-GMP is dedicated to battery-electric vehicles.
Hyundai says the new platform will allow its designers more freedom to create interesting shapes, and promises it won’t enforce a strict family design language from model-to-model.
The new Ioniq range will be a core part of Hyundai’s push to own 10 per cent of the global electric vehicle market by 2025.
