Hyundai plugs in at Geneva
THE final piece of the Hyundai Ioniq jigsaw has been put in place at the 2017 Geneva International Motor Show with the launch of the Ioniq Plug-in which is due to arrive in UK showrooms in July.
The Plug-in is the last model to be launched in the three car Ioniq range and follows the introduction of the Hybrid and Electric versions in the second half of last year. It’s introduction makes e-mobility more accessible to a wider audience, says the Korean company.
As the world’s first car to offer three electrified powertrains, the Ioniq is the flag bearer for the Hyundai’s ambitious plan to launch 14 eco cars in the next three years – including five hybrids, four plug-in hybrids, four electric cars and one fuel-cell electric vehicle.
Since its launch the Ioniq Hybrid has received 13 European awards, with several Car of the Year titles, a 2016 Red Dot design award and a five-star Euro NCap rating in recognition of its outstanding safety.
The Plug-in model combines Hyundai’s new 105PS, 1.6 GDI direct-injection petrol, four-cylinder engine with a 45 kW (61 PS) electric motor powered by a 8.9 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery to give an electric driving range up to 63 km while reducing CO2 emission to 26 g/km* and an astonishing claimed fuel consumption of 256mpg on the official combined cycle. The power train is mated to a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission with different driving modes.
At the launch of the car in Geneva, Hyundai Motor Europe’s Chief Operating Officer, Thomas Schmid declared: “… we are continuing to electrify Europe with the introduction of the Ioniq Plug-in. It is another step towards our goal to launch 14 eco cars until 2020 worldwide, to reduce emissions and to make future mobility more appealing to a wider audience.”