Hyundai Ioniq 6

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 (현대 아이오닉 6) is a battery electric mid-size fastback sedan produced by Hyundai Motor Company. It is the second vehicle marketed under the electric car-focused Ioniq sub-brand after the Ioniq 5, and the fourth model developed on the Hyundai Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). The vehicle was first sold in South Korea in late 2022, with deliveries in the United States beginning in March 2023.

Overview
The Ioniq 6 was launched on 12 July 2022. It is produced at the Asan plant in South Korea, which also produces the Sonata and Grandeur, starting in the third quarter of 2022. Pre-orders started in July 2022. Deliveries started in South Korea and selected European markets in late 2022. For the United States market, production started in January 2023, with sales beginning in March.

On 14 July 2022, the Ioniq 6 was unveiled at the 2022 Busan International Motor Show in South Korea. EV performance tuning technology, electric vehicle virtual driving sound, and electric vehicle active sound design were applied. The vehicle's software can be improved with over-the-air updates, including the car's suspension, brakes, and airbags. In addition, driving assistance technologies such as navigation-based smart cruise control, highway driving assistance, and remote smart parking assistance are available.

In November 2022, the Ioniq 6 achieved the highest overall rating in the Euro NCAP, including adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, pedestrian protection, and safety assistance systems.

Design development
The Ioniq 6 was developed under the codename CE. It was previewed by the Prophecy concept car which was showcased in March 2020.

A design sketch was released first as a teaser image on 21 June 2022. The concept sketch of the car represented the "Electrified Streamliner" design approach, built on Hyundai's new E-GMP platform; the sketch showed a soft streamlined design that minimizes wind resistance. A long wheelbase was applied compared to the overall height.

A series of photos showing details were released in the days leading up to 29 June 2022, when an overall photograph of the Ioniq 6 was unveiled.

Similar to the Ioniq 5, the "Parametric Pixel" design is applied to the front lights. In addition, the Ioniq 6 is the first vehicle to use Hyundai's new stylized-H emblem, which was manufactured in the form of a thin plane made of aluminium. The side profile incorporates a streamlined window line, a built-in flush door handle, and optional side-mounted Digital Side Mirror (DSM) replacing conventional side mirrors. Attention to these and other aerodynamic details such as rear spoilers, external active air flaps, and wheel air curtains were credited for lowering the coefficient of drag to 0.21. The rear of the vehicle combines the rear spoiler with parametric pixel auxiliary braking light.

Hyundai Executive Vice President SangYup Lee, who leads the Hyundai Design Centre, described the interior as "a mindful cocoon that offers personalized place for all". The extended interior space is created by the vehicle's long wheelbase. The vehicle function operation unit was designed to be centralized and the storage space was expanded by applying a bridge-type centre console. In addition, eco-friendly materials were applied to interior and exterior painting, sheets, dashboards, and headliners.

RN22e
The RN22e concept is derived from the Ioniq 6 and carries the Hyundai N motorsport sub-brand; it also was revealed in July 2022. The RN22e previews an Ioniq 6 N high-performance variant for regular production; it is equipped with an all-wheel drive powertrain featuring upgraded traction motors that have outputs of 160 and 270 kW front and rear, respectively, and electronic torque vectoring on the rear differential using a twin-clutch system, branded e-TVTC. Combined output is 430 kW and 740 Nm, identical to the drivetrain of the Kia EV6 GT. The motors now rotate at up to 20,000 RPM, compared to 15,000 RPM in the regular Ioniq 6, increasing top speed. Power is supplied by a 77.4 kW-hr battery.

Compared to the regular Ioniq 6, the RN22e is 2.4 in longer and 5.7 in wider, rolling on 21-inch wheels. The cooling system has been upgraded to prevent overheating of the battery and motors. It is equipped with an optional "gearshift mode" which simulates engine noises and a paddle-shifted transmission implemented by briefly decreasing motor output, which was called "surprisingly convincing" but slowed the car's overall lap time.

The RN22e is being used to test components that will be fitted to the racing variant of the Ioniq 6, with which Hyundai N plan to campaign in the eTouring Car World Cup series starting in 2023. The forthcoming Ioniq 6-based racing car will replace the Veloster N ETCR that was raced in 2021 and 2022. During a hands-on session at the Bilster Berg track, Motor Trend writer Angus MacKenzie noted "the RN22e was setup deliberately to be something of a show-off drift king, to prove an EV can make you smile behind the wheel".

Specifications

 * Notes

Estimated range is 610 km for the RWD version with the larger (Long Range, 77.4 kWh) battery, using the WLTP cycle. Under Korean test standards, the long-range RWD version with 18-inch wheels was expected to have a range of 524 km. For models sold in the United States, the EPA ratings are 361 mi for the Long Range RWD and 316 mi for the Long Range AWD models with 18-inch wheels; with the larger 20-inch wheels, range drops to 305 and 270 mi for the RWD and AWD versions, respectively.

The standard range version with the smaller 53 kWh battery and 18-inch wheels is expected to have a consumption of less than 14 kWh/100km, about equal to the shorter range Hyundai Ioniq Electric. The Standard Model was originally not planned to be marketed in the United States but ended up being marketed.

Using an 800 V DC charger supplying 350 kW, the vehicle's battery can be charged from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes. In the United States, new Ioniq 6 vehicles receive two years of unlimited 30-minute free charging sessions at DC fast chargers owned by Electrify America.

Awards

 * World Car of The Year 2023
 * World Car Design of The Year 2023
 * World Electric Vehicle of The Year 2023
 * Scottish Car of the Year 2023
 * Irish Car of the Year 2024

Safety
The 2023 Ioniq 6 was awarded "Top Safety Pick+" by the IIHS.