Hyundai announces all-electric Ioniq 5 launch date, reveals interior

South Korean carmaker Hyundai says it will unveil the new Ioniq 5 electric crossover next Tuesday, and has given another sneak peek of its new all-electric offering, this time of its interior.

Camouflaged sightings both overseas and in Australia, plus some dimly-lit teaser images have fed a growing appetite for what will be Hyundai’s next all-electric vehicle, and which will be its first in the dedicated Ioniq family.

The all-electric family will be built on Hyundai’s e-GMP platform, which will feature high-performance, ultra-fast-charging options in a range of formats that will use odd numbers for SUV/crossovers and even numbers for sedans.

The new Ioniq 5 images and details reveal an inside area that the carmaker is billing as a “living space”, furnished with sustainable materials and spacious, adjustable elements to offer more room to move.

Taking advantage of the in-floor battery, the Ioniq 5 has a centre console that moves with the front passenger seat, which means easier entry and exit in tight spaces.

Dubbed a “universal island”, Hyundai says it has rethought the traditional “storage box” console to transform it into a functional living space item that can adapt to different needs, although how exactly this will manifest we will learn more of in one week, no doubt.

It will move in tandem with the electronically adjustable front seats, which are covered in “eco-processed leather” treated with flaxseed oil extractions, complemented by soft furnishing made from equally eco-friendly materials such as sugar cane, wool and recycled plastic PET bottles.

Hard surfaces also get the eco-treatment: Polyurethane paint made from rapeseed oils and corn are used on the dashboard, switches, steering wheel and door panels.

Hyundai president and head of its global design centre, Sang Yup Lee says the new approaches taken by Hyundai in its Ioniq designs offer “an optimistic look at what customers can expect in the new EV era”.

A long wheel base and 30% thinner seat backs mean the rear passenger area is also more spacious.

“The long wheelbase is translated to a new dimension of space,” said Lee in a statement. “We designed this special space as a perfect place to recharge, your home away from home.”

The global launch will be accompanied by the opening of a reservation page for European customers (although we note Austria jumped the gun on this one).

A limited number of customers will be able to reserve their interest in a “Project 45” first edition version of the Ioniq 5, and will receive a special invitation to a spring “Ioniq experience” event in select countries.

Australia, however, will miss out on this special treatment: Hyundai presses home the “importance of Europe to Hyundai’s EV strategy” which means it has to sell more electric vehicles there to meet the strict CO2 emissions regulations pout in place by the EU.

Nevertheless, expect more information about the Ioniq 5 in Australia closer to a local launch, expected by mid-2021.