Hyundai has put its next all-electric offering – the Ioniq 6 – on display at the IAA motor show in Munich on Monday, and committed to sell only pure electric vehicles in Europe from 2035 and worldwide from 2040.
The Ioniq 6 was also confirmed for a 2022 debut by the South Korean carmaker, and draws strongly from the Prophecy concept introduced by the company in late 2022,  which won it a prestigious car design award.
Hyundai currently sells the Ioniq 5 SUV, which is due to be launched imminently in Australia and is its first car on a dedicated all-electric drivetrain platform. Sales figures reported on by The Driven show that the Ioniq 5 is rapidly superseding its forerunner, an electric version of the Kona compact SUV.
But the Ioniq 6 is something new for Hyundai. While it also sells an all-electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid version of the eponymous and relatively zippy Ioniq fastback, the Ioniq 6 is instead a sleek entry into the executive sedan segment.
Pictured alongside an Ioniq 5 replete with “robotaxi” sensors, the Ioniq 6 has a sweeping profile with a long bonnet. With two vertical rear headlights under a rear spoiler and oversized rims, it has all the appearance of a minimalist Batmobile.
While Hyundai hasn’t given away much in the way of specifications for the Ioniq 6, it says it will have a focus on customisable options that will allow it to fit into any lifestyle. Built on the same e-GMP platform as the Ioniq 5, expect 400-volt and 800-volt architecture that allows ultra-fast 350kW charging and vehicle-to-load capabilities.
Outlining a path to an all-electric and low carbon future, the company says it will approach this under three “pillars”.
In addition to its new Ioniq all-electric series, it will also continue developing a hydrogen fuel cell range (FCEV) of vehicles to add to its Hyundai Nexo and Xcient hydrogen heavy-duty truck. This will include from 2023 an FCEV multi-purpose vehicle and a new Nexo.
Under Pillar 2 will sit next-generation platforms. Hyundai says it is already pouring investment into the development of autonomous driving capabilities as well as flying electric vehicles under its Urban Air Mobility (UAM) project.
Its third pillar includes the development of green hydrogen, reduction of carbon emissions at its factories, vehicle-to-grid capabilities and a program for batteries no longer useful for cars as second-life energy storage systems.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.