IONIQ BECOMES EV SUB-BRAND

Hyundai is launching an Ioniq sub-brand to focus solely on battery electric cars.

The Korean car maker will use the new brand to launch three new EVS in the next four years as it looks to secure one million EV sales by 2025.

The Ioniq name is already in use on the brand’s electric hatchback, which also comes in hybrid variants, but the upcoming models will be all-new and based on a new Ev-specific platform.

Using a simple naming structure where odd numbers represent SUVS and even numbers represent saloons, the company will launch the Ioniq 5, 6 and 7 between 2021 and 2024.

The Ioniq 5 will come out in 2021 as a mid-sized SUV based on the 45 concept car shown at the 2019 Frankfurt motor show.

The Ioniq 6 will follow in 2022. Based on the stunning Prophecy concept car unveiled it is set to be a sleek large saloon that exemplifies the brands “timeless value” design philosophy.

In 2024, the Ioniq 7 - a large SUV - will join the line-up.

Allthreecarsarebasedona new E-GMP platform developed specifically for electric vehicles. Hyundai says this new platform will give the Ioniq fast-charging capability and long-range potential as well as design flexibility inside and out.

It is promising to reimagine the vehicle interior as “smart living space” with simple, ergomic controls, highly adjustable seats, wireless connectivity and unique features such as a glove box designed as drawers.

It is also putting an emphasis on “connected living” to integrate in-car and out-ofcar experiences, although there are no details on what this is likely to involve.