Hyundai Ioniq 6 – Built for Passion, Not Practicality
By Edward A. Sanchez — June 29, 2022
As we’ve discussed on this blog and our podcast, some have leveled the epithet “soulless” against EVs. Yes, they may be objectively strong performers, with impressive 0-60 mph and quarter-mile times, and astounding levels of efficiency (at least relative to ICE vehicles). But what is there to stir the enthusiast’s soul? Well, Hyundai wants to at least make an earnest attempt with the Ioniq 6.
It seems like most of the new EVs introduced recently have followed a similar script, including those from the Hyundai Group: midsize crossovers of some form or another. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this tried-and-true formula, but neither does it particularly spark passion or emotion. With the Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Genesis GV60, and soon the GV70 EV, the Hyundai Group has plenty of “practical” EVs. Time to build one with some pizzazz and panache.
Hyundai gave a glimpse of what it had in mind with the Ioniq 6 with the Prophecy Concept it showed in 2020. The Prophecy was a radically aerodynamic, teardrop-shaped sedan with a joystick drive system, a bold, adventurous vision of its electrified future. Like most concept cars, few believed the Prophecy heralded a production model, especially its unconventional driving controls.
The rear of the Ioniq 6 is a showcase of form over function, which is welcome in what some might say is a world filled with cookie cutter crossovers.
Well, lo and behold, this week, Hyundai revealed the production-intent version of the Ioniq 6 that will officially debut at the Busan Auto Show in South Korea next month. Except for its much more conventional interior, the Ioniq 6 leaves no doubt about its spiritual inspiration, the Prophecy. The Ioniq 6’s radically tapered trunk shows that it’s prioritizing style and sleekness for functionality, sacrificing cargo utility in exchange for a drag coefficient of just 0.21, the highest claimed Cd of any production vehicle, matching the Lucid Air, and besting the Tesla Model 3 and Porsche Taycan.
The Ioniq 6’s interior certainly seems related to its Ioniq 5 sibling.
In terms of tech specs, the Ioniq 6 is expected to mirror the other E-GMP models, the Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Genesis GV60, with at least some versions featuring a 77.4 kWh battery and 320 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque (AWD). A rear-wheel-drive version, as well as a possible N variant with 500+ hp are also rumored, but as of this writing, not officially confirmed by Hyundai.
A swooping exterior gives the Hyundai Ioniq 6 an impressive 0.21 Cd.
The interior is much more conventional than the Prophecy Concept, with a normal steering wheel, and a dashboard display that looks lifted by and large from the Ioniq 5. In regions where regulations allow, cameras will serve as rearview mirrors. U.S. models, at least for now, will have conventional reflective glass rearview mirrors.
While I have a strongly pragmatic, utilitarian streak, and appreciate the cargo versatility and practicality of crossovers, there’s something I can appreciate about a car that puts style and design above the mundane, quotidian concerns of schlepping stuff. While the Ioniq 6 may not be for everyone, it’s sure to appeal to those who care more about making an expressive statement, leaving the business of moving goods and cargo to the professionals, U-Haul, or a less style-centric member of their vehicular family.
(Main image courtesy Hyundai)
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