The IONIQ will be available with a fully-electric (EV), plug-in gasoline/electric hybrid (PHEV) and full gasoline/electric hybrid (HEV) options in a single body type. It aims to separate itself from the competition by offering an entertaining drive and class-leading fuel economy figures without sacrificing on the appeal of its design. Hyundai has stated that the car is likely to be launched in Korea in January 2016 after which it will then be showcased at the Geneva and New York motor shows.
Hyundai has been on a roll over the past few years as it has progressed from being a manufacturer of flimsy small cars to the present day automotive Goliath that it is today. Not only has it upped its game in terms of quality of materials used and better fit and finish, but the company's Fluidic Design platform has resulted in the creation of some spectacular looking vehicles as well. In fact, the company has been doing so well and has been expanding at such a rapid rate that it recently created a sub-brand called Genesis which will offer a line of luxury cars fit to challenge the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Once launched, the IONIQ will open a new line of avenues in the field of green-engineering for Hyundai to research.
Woong-Chul Yang, Head of Hyundai's R&D Center said, "Hyundai Motor has a heritage of building innovative, fuel-efficient vehicles, so we are proud to advance our eco-friendly car line-up with the introduction of IONIQ. Our vision for future mobility focuses on choice, with a variety of powertrain options to suit customers' varied lifestyles, without compromising on design or driving enjoyment. IONIQ embodies Hyundai Motor's vision to shift the automotive paradigm and future mobility; IONIQ is the fruit of our efforts to become the leader in the global green car market."
The IONIQ has been built on an exclusive platform designed to facilitate its 3 powertrains. Its chassis has been optimized to deliver responsive handling despite being highly efficient. When in EV mode, power is derived from a high capacity lithium-ion battery pack whereas in PHEV form, the car uses a mix between gasoline and battery derived power. The last HEV option uses the gasoline engine and a kinetic energy regeneration system to charge the batteries while the car is moving. This improves the engine's efficiency as the batteries are able to supplement the engine's power output.
The name IONIQ is an amalgamation of 'ion' and 'unique'. Both words are cleverly associated with the car; an ion is an electrically charged atom and unique is a great word to set apart the IONIQ from the rest of Hyundai's extensive range of cars thanks to its multiple environmentally friendly powertrain options.
