It may not be as beautiful as the Prophecy Concept that inspired its design, but there's no denying the recently revealed Hyundai Ioniq 6 has set tongues wagging. Perhaps not as handsome as the tasteful Ioniq 5, the slippery design will most likely pay dividends when it comes to the yet-to-be-announced driving range. Still, if you can't stomach the looks of Korea's latest EV, you'll be pleased to know a more stylish model may be on the way.
The company's design chief told Auto Express that more practical variants of the Ioniq 6 are entirely possible. "I can make a great hatchback out of that; a shooting brake," said SangYup Lee. As SUVs and crossovers continue to dominate the sales charts, style-conscious consumers are seeking unique alternatives with plenty of character and flair. A slick-looking wagon could be just the thing Hyundai needs.
Of course, the automaker's luxury division already offers European customers the supremely elegant G70 Shooting Brake. Genesis has made no mention of its arrival on American shores, but the brand's Chief Creative Officer, Luc Donckerwolke, has suggested otherwise. However, a more practical station wagon isn't the only thing Lee has up his sleeve.
He told the UK publication that a performance model will be well-suited to the Ioniq 6. "It would also make a great performance model." We already know that Hyundai is working with Rimac to develop future N-badged electric models and we've seen the high-performance Ioniq 5 N tearing around the Nurburgring.
Rumored to use the same setup as the surprisingly rapid Kia EV6 GT, we can expect the 0 to 60 mph dash to be dispatched in less than 3.5 seconds courtesy of 577 horsepower and 546 lb-ft of torque on tap.
An N-badged Ioniq 6 will likely share the same system, making for one rapid electric performance sedan. Hopefully, the accompanying N aesthetic enhancements will improve the peculiar styling. It won't be the only Hyundai vehicle to receive the N treatment; the automaker has previously said it will offer a performance model in every "major vehicle segment."
Interestingly, the company's chief designer also suggested that future Hyundai models will have a shorter lifespan than before. Instead of restyled headlights and redesigned facias, updates may consist of software updates and improvements. Lee remarked that "making a timeless EV makes lifecycle management much easier."
The Ioniq 6 will be game-changing in terms of sustainability. Recycled materials have been used in the construction and the leather, for example, is dyed using flaxseed oil. You can read about the Ioniq 6 here but, for now, we'll have to wait for Hyundai to reveal more technical details.