The Hyundai Prophecy concept teased a future electric vehicle design. Will its forecasts come true with the new Ioniq 6 electric vehicle, whose manufacturing will begin next year?
- Hyundai has unveiled the first images of the electric vehicle Ioniq 6 for 2024.
- The Ioniq 6, Kia EV6, and Genesis GV60 will all be built on the same E-GMP platform as the Ioniq 5.
- The Ioniq 6 will enter production in 2023 for the US market and enter service as a 2024 model year car.
Hyundai has showcased the production Ioniq 6 electric car ahead of its planned launch later this year, 2.5 years after debuting the gorgeous Prophecy concept. The Ioniq 6 stands out from the crowd and blends in nicely with the current Ioniq 5, even though its unusual style is bound to cause controversy. The Ioniq 6 is a wild '90s show vehicle brought to reality, whilst the Ioniq 5 resembles a hatchback concept from the 1980s.
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The Ioniq 6 comes after the SUV with an 8-bit appeal, the Ioniq 5, and the Ioniq, which resembles a Toyota Prius. The Ioniq 5 and the Prophecy idea have received high praise, so the Ioniq 6 has a lot to live up to. The Hyundai E-GMP specialized electric platform, which is also used by the Kia EV6 and the Genesis GV60, underpins all Ioniq variants. As a result of translating the idea into a practical and street-legal platform, the Ioniq 6 travels a little further than the Prophecy concept.
Hyundai designers claim that to give the Ioniq 6 a unique appearance, they were inspired by the sleek vehicles of the 1930s. There is a subtle hint of the Taycan and Model 3 in the front end, while the rear spoiler rises like an homage to a ducktail Porsche 911. Modern influences appear to be Porsche and Tesla. It combines traditional and contemporary elements as promised.
SangYup Lee, the head of design at Hyundai, discussed the challenges and benefits of fusing distinctive brand identity with cutting-edge technology.
Everything from Chevrolet Camaros and Corvettes to the Bentley Continental GT has been written by Lee. After completing his studies at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, he started his design career 27 years after leaving South Korea. He eventually managed eight nations and fifteen brands before returning to South Korea in 2016 to lead the design of Hyundai and Genesis. Lee creates innovative ideas with a high-end flare in collaboration with Luc Donckerwolke, the chief creative officer of Genesis and Ioniq, to help Hyundai and Genesis stand out in both the mass-market and premium sectors.
When Lee was questioned about how he handles a Hyundai automobile as opposed to an expensive Genesis, he said he sometimes manages dozens of tasks at once. He claims that Hyundai treats its cars like chess pieces. The king, queen, bishop, and knight all have individual appearances and movements, yet they work together as a unit. Many OEMs develop a design and then sell it in several sizes, much like Russian nesting dolls, but Lee claims that Hyundai considers the lifestyles of its customers: "A huge family has different demands than Gen Z." Lee also wants the styling to stand out.
The Ioniq range has so far succeeded in its retro-futurist goal. The Ioniq 6 has a fully contemporary and new vibe. The decor is beautiful and uncluttered. No fake chrome, chrome, or frilly edges. It's just plain and uncomplicated. While imagining the interior, Lee and the design team considered the practicality of contemporary technology as well as their interest in it. We're urging people to use touchscreens, but doing so while moving might be risky, he argues. Thus, we seek the ideal equilibrium. Voice activation will be more prevalent in the future, but we are now in the transitional phase. It will have buttons if it is safer.
The spacious length of the Ioniq 6 is advantageous to rear-seat occupants. Tall adults with long legs will have enough room in the vast area. According to Lee, this "creates a love-seat vibe."
For the time being, the Ioniq stands out as the most adventurous of the company's products, if Hyundai is the mainstream and Genesis the luxury.
