Hyundai Motor has selected “Ioniq” as the name for its first brand incorporating a platform that exclusively features fully electric vehicles.
Hyundai Motor announced on Aug. 10 that it would be launching three Ioniq models between 2021 and 2024 using the fully electric vehicle-dedicated platform E-GMP. The name “Ioniq” comes from a combination of the word “ion,” referring to an electrically charged particle, and the word “unique.” It’s the same name used by the automaker for its exclusive eco-friendly model first launched in 2016.
“The previous Ioniq models were developed with an internal combustion engine platform and will not be included in the new brand,” a Hyundai Motor official said.
The Ioniq 5, the first new model under the Ioniq brand, is to be launched next year. It is a compact crossover utility vehicle (CUV) based on the 45 concept car unveiled last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Its design reflects a modern reinterpretation of the Pony Coupe, a concept car produced in 1974. The Ioniq 6, a midsize sedan, is to be launched in 2022, followed by the Ioniq 7, a full-size SUV, in 2024. As with Kia’s K series, the number increases with the vehicle size.
A full range of new technologies are also being brought out for what is expected to be the first head-to-head contest for dedicated electric vehicles. Hyundai Motor explained that the vehicles in its Ioniq series can be charged within 20 minutes and travel 450km on a single charge. Interior space is also maximized with the elimination of engine room. The Hyundai Motor Group has finalized plans to launch five total EV-dedicated models, including one Genesis and one Kia model. In a New Year’s address this year, Hyundai Executive Vice chairman Chung Eui-sun announced plans to launch 11 total EV-dedicated models by 2025.
By Lee Jae-yeon, staff reporter
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Caption: From the left: Ioniq 6, Ioniq 7, Ioniq 5. (provided by Hyundai Motor)