It appears that Hyundai is seriously aiming at crippling the hybrid giant of the world – the Toyota Prius – with their all-new Hyundai Ioniq. The Korean carmaker has devised a strategic three-pronged attack by coming up with the Ioniq Hybrid, Electric and Plug-in variants.
All variants will share one key feature – a sleek exterior shell with an impressive coefficient drag value of 0.24. Also to note, the hybrid and plug-in models will get blue accents while the exclusive copper coloured highlights is only reserved for the all-electric variant.
As a callback from our previous story, all three variants of the Ioniq are powered by the new Kappa 1.6-litre four cylinder Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine mated with an electric motor. Together, they make for a combined output of 140 hp with up to 265 Nm of torque. Transmission choice is a rather unique call – a six-speed automatic dual clutch gearbox, and the electric motor is juiced by a 1.56 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery. Top speed is rated at 182km/h.
The Ioniq is not built for 0-100km/h glory, instead the car’s main focus is its range. The plug-in electric model utilises an 8.9 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that is capable of travelling 50km on electrical power alone. The electric variant meanwhile, carries a larger 28 kWh lithium-ion-polymer battery pack that’s good for up to 250km on a single charge!
The Ioniq is equipped with a multitude of safety tech which include autonomous emergency braking, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist that will proactively prevent traffic accidents by applying brake force.
At this point in time, it’s still too early to say for sure if Hyundai Sime Darby Motors will introduce the Ioniq as a fully imported model. The odds are against us, mainly due to unfavourable excise duties and taxation that could skyrocket the Ioniq’s asking price. However, should they find a way to localise the model via Inokom’s plant (used to rebadge Hyundai vehicles in Malaysia) in Kedah, then it might just be able to qualify for the Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) incentive.
[Image Credit: Autocar UK]
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