modern open a roll. Despite the ongoing pandemic and supply chain issues, global sales rose an impressive 4% and sales outside its home country of South Korea rose an impressive 7%. Then there’s the little thing about awards.
Among the top three finalists for the 2022 World Car of the Year, a jury of 102 automotive journalists from 33 countries awarded the honor, with Hyundai Motor Group not one but two: Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. Kia is a minority owner of Hyundai, and its EV6 is based on the same platform as the Ioniq 5. Another finalist is the Ford Mustang Mach-E – which made the final three electric vehicles.
Hyundai also beat out the Audi E-Tron GT and Mercedes-Benz EQS for the World Car Design of the Year and World Electric Car Awards. Along with a host of other country-specific trophies, the Ioniq 5 was crowned Germany’s Car of the Year for 2022 – making BMW, Audi and Mercedes even more anachronistic.
With the design and performance success of the Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, the automotive world has been eagerly watching what’s coming next. The wait is now over. Hyundai plans to launch 17 EV models over the next eight years, starting with the Ioniq 6.
With its efficient aerodynamic shape, the Ioniq 6 has a drag coefficient of 0.21 (just shy of the 0.20 claimed by the EQS, the most aerodynamic car in the world right now), though it has a bit of a Porsche 911 flavor with four doors. SangYup Lee, executive vice president and head of Hyundai’s Global Design Center, calls the broad silhouette “streamlined.”
Sitting between the 2021 Ioniq 5 and the upcoming Ioniq 7 electric SUV, the Ioniq 6 appears to be aimed at those looking for more performance than the family-oriented Ioniq 5 offers. In addition to an ultra-low drag coefficient (should help the EV’s as-yet-unspecified range), Hyundai’s electrified streamlines feature additional aerodynamic features, including active air flaps at the front, wheel-clearance reducers and optional digital rearview mirror. Thinner than traditional designs.
