Are Hyundai car designers from the future? The recently unveiled Hyundai Ioniq 6 facelift looks like it’s straight out of a sci-fi film set in 2077, and it’s a proper head-turner – something we couldn’t say for the outgoing model – thanks to its sleek and futuristic redesigned exterior.
The facelifted Ioniq 6 features a reworked front end, with the daytime running lights now a strip on the bonnet, forming a striking split headlight design thanks to the repositioned headlights on the front bumper.
Towards the rear, the previous unique dual-spoiler setup is gone, replaced by a single duck-tail style spoiler mounted on the boot lid while the rear bumper has also been simplified with black accents and new horizontal light elements, replacing the previous vertical ones.
Inside, the Ioniq 6 facelift features a redesigned steering wheel, now sporting a three-spoke design instead of the previous two-spoke setup. The centre console has also been redesigned, with physical buttons making a return here in an enlarged central climate control area for ease of use. Door trims are also improved, aiming for a more premium feel, according to Hyundai.
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This cleaner, simpler design theme, which Hyundai calls ‘Pure Flow, Refined’, aims to make the Ioniq 6 simpler and more progressive, while retaining its distinctive and curvy “Electrified Streamliner” profile. But for those who want more of an edge, Hyundai has also introduce a sportier Ioniq 6 with the N-Line performance variant.
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 N-Line gets a more aggressive front bumper with large faux air-intake cutouts, much like the Ioniq 5 N. The rear bumper also gets this treatment, with additional black accents for a sportier stance.
And if you’re waiting for an Ioniq 6 N, it’s coming! It’s set to debut in July this year, according to Hyundai. The company even teased the Ioniq 6 N by sneakily parking it behind the regular Ioniq 6 and N-Line model in one of the images, showing off a bit of its rear design, which features a large rear spoiler and aggressive rear bumper.
Hyundai did not disclose any powertrain information for the Ioniq 6 facelift. For context, the current Ioniq 6 in its pre-facelift guise is on sale in Malaysia in four variants: Lite RWD, Plus RWD, Max RWD, and Max AWD, split between two powertrain configurations.
Driving the Lite RWD and Plus RWD models is a rear-mounted electric motor producing 151 hp (111 kW) and 350 Nm, enabling a 0-100 km/h sprint in 8.8 seconds. This setup is powered by a 53 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack, providing a range of 429 km (WLTP).
In contrast, the Max RWD model features a more powerful 228 hp (168 kW) motor with 305 Nm, completing the century sprint in 7.4 seconds. This model also boasts a larger 77.4 kWh battery pack, offering a range of 614 km (WLTP).
Offering the most performance, the Max AWD model has a dual-motor setup delivering 325 hp (239 kW) and 605 Nm, achieving 0-100 km/h in 5.1 seconds. It uses the same 77.4 kWh battery pack as the Max RWD, but the range is slightly reduced to 519 km (WLTP).
All four variants support 11 kW AC charging and 150 kW DC charging, enabling a 10% to 80% charge in 18 minutes.
Hyundai could enhance the facelifted Ioniq 6’s range and performance through battery and battery management software upgrades. But the real performance excitement revolves around the upcoming Ioniq 6 N, which is anticipated to boast a considerable horsepower boost over the regular models. We’re eager to see it unleash its potential!
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