The EV formerly known as the Hyundai Ioniq 7 officially has a new name, and with it, an official reveal date just weeks away. That’s right, the Hyundai equivalent to the Kia EV9 is finally ready to reveal its face in production form after first being previewed as the Hyundai Seven concept in 2021. In four new teaser images, Hyundai showcases design elements coming to the Ioniq 9, including a bubbly silhouetted profile very much in keeping with the original concept. Other elements to carry over include the pixel-like LED front fascia, which has been a staple across the current range of Ioniq-branded models, the 5 and 6.
‘Aerosthetic’ Looks Inspired By The Concept
As Hyundai’s largest all-electric product to date, the efficiency of the EV will be heavily influenced by its aerodynamics, with Hyundai christening its design language as “aerosthetic” – inspired by a blend of aerodynamic performance and aesthetic appeal. Hyundai cites boats as inspiration for the exterior and interior of the newcomer and promises the curved roofline will ensure ample room for occupants in all three rows.
Other design inspiration comes from Korean clothing – Hanbok – referenced by the diagonal lines on the SUV’s side, while the front light panel is made of Hyundai’s Parametric Pixels signature lighting element. The multi-spoke wheels, meanwhile, are meant to be extremely aero-efficient. We’ll get more glimpses of the Ioniq 9 soon, as Hyundai promises various teasers to come in the next three weeks, ahead of a global reveal sometime in November, several months later than was originally anticipated.
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But while the exterior seems to borrow heavily from the concept (below) – wheels excluded – the interior won’t be anything like the lounge-like cabin we saw previously and will adopt a more traditional three-row layout with traditional rear doors instead of the rear-hinged ones the concept had.
The Kia EV9 Gives Us Clues Of What To Expect
The Hyundai Ioniq 9 will be mechanically related to the Kia EV9, sharing the same E-GMP architecture under the skin. While we expect some details to differ between the two, the brands largely utilize the same hardware, giving us an idea of what to expect. Single and dual electric motors will be a staple, along with a couple of battery options. In base form, expect a single-motor RWD model with approximately 215 horsepower and a battery somewhere in the region of a 76.1 kWh capacity with a range of around 230 miles; that’s what the base Kia EV9 Light has. Longer range models have a 99.8 kWh battery in the Kia, with up to 304 miles of range in single-motor configuration, while dual-motor variants boast approximately 280 miles of range, have up to 379 hp, and can sprint from 0-60 mph in five seconds flat.
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Figures similar to these are to be expected from the Hyundai, and if it can mimic Kia’s pricing structure in the US, it could arrive next year priced at around $55,000. It may be cheaper, still, as US manufacturing of the Ioniq 9 is expected to coincide with the EV9, making both eligible for up to $7,500 in federal tax rebates. The two may also be joined at a later date by an even more luxurious SUV based on the same platform from Genesis.
