Predictions should always be taken with a grain of salt. Last year’s Hyundai Prophecy Concept served as a finger exercise for a second dedicated EV that Hyundai is adding to its Ioniq line. Although the Ioniq 6 appears to be less excessive, it is no less interesting.
Rewind to 2020, the year in which Hyundai blew away friend and foe with the Prophecy Concept. It was a striking, banana-shaped four-door coupe with a steeply sloping roofline, a Porsche-like front and a very impressive rear. The Prophecy Concept appeared not long after the equally stubborn 45 Concept, an angular show car inspired by the Hyundai Pony Coupé Concept from 1974 that went into production in almost unchanged form. We now know that model as the electric Ioniq 5. When Hyundai indicated that the Ioniq 5 would get a brother in 2022 and showed a dark image of a model that closely resembled the Prophecy Concept, it was clear: the Hyundai Prophecy Concept. goes into production as Ioniq 6. Advances in insight have moved the Koreans to make the Ioniq 6 a less exotic model than intended. That sounds like a disappointment to those who had hoped for a fierce Porsche Taycan-like, but for both the consumer and for Hyundai itself it is a wise move.
Hyundai Prophecy Concept (2019)
Friendly
With a lower and more stretched EV that has to open the attack on the Tesla Model 3, Hyundai is guaranteed to put away much larger numbers than an exclusive competitor of the Tesla Model S or Audi E-tron GT. The fact that Hyundai is taking a rational path with the Ioniq 6 absolutely does not mean that the brand will deliver a thirteen-in-a-dozen model next year. The most recent spy photos show a car on which fortunately many Prophecy elements can still be seen. Under the abundant camouflage work, for example, hides a carriage with a striking number of curves. With its still somewhat curved shape and strongly sloping convex roofline, which smoothly merges with the bonnet and buttocks, Hyundai gives the car its very own character. The design looks much nicer and more friendly than what we’ve seen on the road lately. The Ioniq 6 gets a downright friendly face.
The slippery EV peers into the world with its headlights – which resemble eyes – uninhibitedly, but with its impressive buttocks also proves to be a brutal flail. The Prophecy Concept’s remarkable rear spoiler survives the transition to the production stage in a toned-down form. It looks like the thing needs extra downforce to keep the rear from getting too light at high speeds. Our illustrator gives an impression of what the Ioniq 6 will look like from the back. He is without a doubt stubborn.
Hyundai Ioniq 6 (Illustration: Larson)
Ioniq 6 N
What is also certain is that the Hyundai Ioniq 6 takes full advantage of the E-GMP platform, a modular base specially developed for electric models with which the Ioniq 5 already scores highly. The Ioniq 5 is available with a 73 kWh battery and with a smaller 53 kWh package. These batteries can be combined with electric motors in various power variants. Count on 170 hp, 217 hp and 306 hp versions and maybe even a more than 580 hp top version. The latter could be a nice seasoning, which could possibly go through life as Ioniq 6 N.
Much more relevant are the more conventional types, with which you may go less fast, but which have a larger range. With its largest battery and smallest electric motor, the Ioniq 5 has a driving range of up to 480 kilometers. Don’t be surprised if the more efficient air-cutting Ioniq 6 squeezes more than 500 kilometers from its 73 kWh battery. Thanks to the 400V and 800V on-board voltage, the battery pack can be recharged with power in record time. Convinced of the E-GMP technology, but are both the Ioniq 5 and this 6 a bit too low for you? Then wait until 2024. Then Hyundai will market a lil of an electric SUV with the Ioniq 7. We expect to see the Ioniq 6 in the showrooms next year.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl