The Hyundai Ioniq 6 has been spotted “in camouflage” in the wild and it looks as if the current design has held relatively true to the Prophecy concept unveiled in 2020, intended as the forerunner of the Ioniq 6.
Hyundai unveiled its Prophecy concept back in March 2020. A sleek electric coupe-like concept, the Prophecy was designed as a manifestation of Hyundai’s “optimistic futurism.”
Boasting a smooth nose, cat-like headlights, and a panoramic roof, the Prophecy went on to be awarded the prestigious Car Design Award later in 2020.
A year later, Hyundai displayed the Ioniq 6 at the IAA motor show in Munich, though as we can see from spy photos revealed last week, the Ioniq 6 on display in Munich was very much the Prophecy and not the production-ready Ioniq 6 that we might have guessed.
Once launched, the Ioniq 6 will join the well-received Ioniq 5 that is built on a dedicated e-GMP platform and offers market-leading features such as vehicle-to-load and 800V ultra-fast charging. Hear more about the Ioniq 5 in our review here.
The EV Hyundai brought to Munich played very much on the freedom that comes with the design a concept vehicle, ignoring the limitations presented by reality. Boasting huge wheels and a sleek curvature that, from some angles, resembles an old fashioned Beetle, the Prophecy has since morphed into the Ioniq 6, with more conventional sized wheels and a lengthier curve that eliminates the Beetle-type “bubble”.
Photos shared to the Korean Bobaedream forum show the camouflaged Ioniq 6 on the back of a truck and highlight some of the changes made from the Prophecy.
A more conventional bumper and slim, horizontal tail-lights edging further up on the vehicle’s rear fascia are some of the noticeable modifications. While there appears to be a fuller curve between the Ioniq 6 and Prophecy, the camouflage does its job well for the moment in disguising just how sleek the production model will be.
The Ioniq 6 is expected for a 2022 introduction in Hyundai’s home country, Korea, where recent reports have suggested a slight delay as the company seeks to lengthen the four-door coupe slightly and boost its electric range.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.