Likely the most significant new model reveal at the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show was the dramatic and showstopping 2023 Hyundai 2023 Ioniq 6 all-electric sedan. With 340 miles of range, a stunning design swagger and a break rules attitude, Hyundai might just be on to something.
Building from the same E-GMP battery electric vehicle chassis of the Ioniq 5, Hyundai stretched the wheelbase to 116-inches and designed a streamlined shape that’s destined to become a classic, at least iconic of our current age.
With a design that seems both art-deco and futuristic the Ioniq 6 features over 700 of its bright square parametric pixels from front to rear. These are found in the LED headlamps, tail lamps, lower fascias and give it a lighting signature like nothing else.
Its shape is a slick single curve that along with its flush details and movable front air vents has the lowest drag coefficient ever for a Hyundai vehicle of 0.22. I think its downright elegant and artful in a way that may well best models even in the company’s Genesis showroom.
Come inside though, see some more. The interior almost takes us back to an era in Americana where design was king with a mid-century flare that’s highlighted with a vast array of adjustable LED lighting effects that deserve their own full length video.
The lighting accentuates the artistic sculpting and design elements throughout the interior that take what we expect from a car up a few notches. The dash and cockpit of course feature a full width dual-screen layout with complete control over colors, information displays and a full raft of infotainment feature content too long to list off here.
A flat floor accentuated by its stretched wheelbase creates a sense of space and proportion we’ve almost forgotten about with all of our modern day crossovers and SUVS. It’s almost decadent. The good news is it’s all made with a healthy list of eco-friendly materials from plant-based plastics to recycled source fibers.
Under the floor is a large 77.4 kWh battery pack that powers either one or two electric motors. A standard rear-wheel drive model has 225 horsepower and features the headlining range of up to 340 miles.
Stepping up to the dual motor all-wheel-drive Ioniq 6 will get you 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque that can take you from 0-60 in just under 5 seconds. Yes the power takes range, but still offers up 310 miles.
Like the Genesis GV60 we recently tested, the Ioniq 6 has a cute and campy virtual propulsion sound called electric-Active Sound Design. It has three distinct generated sounds that play through the interior speakers to give you smile. One is futuristic syth like sound, another like a distant revving gas engine, another accentuated electric motor hum.
With its standard charging hardware you can get from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 18 minutes if you can find a 350 kWh fast charger. A standard Level 2 charger can get you to 100% in a little over 7-hours.
Like other E-GMP models, the Ioniq 6 features a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension. It’s a pretty heavy car with a curb weight ranging from 3935 pounds to 4616. With the increased wheelbase along with its ultra low center of gravity, the ride and handling experience should be more stable and smooth than the Ioniq 5. A test drive will flesh that out.
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 goes on sale in the spring of 2023. Pricing will be announced closer to the on-sale date. Expect it to come in a bit higher than the Ioniq 5 which currently starts at $41,450.