2021 Hyundai Ioniq 5 revealed, the first EV under the Ioniq sub-brand

The 2021 Hyundai Ioniq 5 is Hyundai's first bespoke electric vehicle, the first under the new Ioniq sub-brand, and also the first of many to come on the Hyundai Group's new E-GMP platform, that features an impressive 800V architecture allowing for greater charging speeds, so far only seen on more expensive luxury EVs. The Ioniq 5 rides on a massive 3,000mm long wheelbase, longer than even Hyundai's own 7-seater Palisade SUV! It'll be offered with a choice of standard range 58kWh, or long-range 72.6kWh battery packs, single or twin-electric motors, and accordingly deliver up to 480km of driving range (WLTP, 2WD), 0-100kmph performance at 5.2s (AWD), and a claimed 10-80 per cent charge in just 18 minutes. Pricing will be revealed later, though it is expected to cost around $50,000 or Rs 36 lakh directly converted, and it goes on sale in international markets by the first half of 2021. 

Coming down to the details, the Ioniq 5's overall length of 4,635mm makes it under 200mm longer than a Tucson, but that 3m-long wheelbase will be the main talking point, outdoing even the Tesla Model X (whose wheelbase stands at 2,965mm). It features neo-retro SUV/crossover styling inspired by the 1974 Hyundai Pony Coupe concept, a taster of which we got in the Hyundai 45 Concept seen at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 2019.

With the wheels pushed right out to the corners of the car, the Ioniq 5's evolution of the Sensuous Sportiness design language hides its long wheelbase well, and elements like the clamshell hood (Hyundai's first), flush door handles, and 20-inch aero-optimised wheels help its aerodynamic efficiency. The merging lines on the sides of the Ioniq 5, that Hyundai call 'parametric dynamics' as first seen on the new-gen Tucson, bring immense visual dynamism to the package without being too fussy or complicated. 

The Ioniq 5's cabin is designed as an extension of a living space, and the front seats feature extendable calf support so owners can stretch out while waiting for their vehicles to charge. The centre console also moves back by up to 140mm allowing for more flexibility, while the gear selector's situated behind the wheel. The cabin's got a smattering of eco-friendly materials, including natural wools, eco-processed leather and recycled plastics. Further, a V2L charging port in the second row allows charging of heavy-load electronics up to 3.6kW, including electric bicycles, ovens and the like. The 531-litre boot is complemented by a 571-litre front trunk in the 2WD models, while AWD models have a 24-litre boot up front. There's plenty of advanced tech too, with a 12-inch infotainment screen, 12-inch instrumentation panel, and an augmented reality HUD. The Ioniq 5 will also debut HDA2 (Highway Driving Assist 2), Hyundai's ADAS tech. 

Sitting at the top of the Ioniq 5 range will be the 72.6kWh battery-pack variant paired with twin electric motors for AWD, producing 605Nm torque. Claimed 0-100kmph performance is 5.2s, which drops to 6.1s in the 58kWh battery variant. The single electric motor variants make 350Nm torque, and with the 72.6kWh battery, accelerates up to 100kmph in 7.4s. With the lower-spec battery, that figures drops to 8.5s. WLTP range for the single-electric motor paired with the large battery stands at 470-480km, while Hyundai claims a five minute charge can replenish up to 100km of range. The Ioniq range, meanwhile, will soon grow to include the Ioniq 6 electric sedan and Ioniq 7, a 'large' SUV.