Hyundai’s electric spaceship has landed in Zurich

The modern design makes the new Hyundai Ioniq 6 look almost like a UFO. But as a spaceship, the Stromer not only looks futuristic, it also offers longer range potential. Because thanks to optimized aerodynamics, lower consumption and therefore valuable range kilometers can be produced with a manageable effort.

The drop-shaped design, followed by Mercedes EQS and EQE electric cars, has the biggest share. With a drag value of 0.21, the new Ioniq 6 is between two star broadcasters (EQS 0.20, EQE 0.22). The Koreans take almost the same measures to reduce air resistance: special rims, an aerodynamic channel of air along the wheel arches (Air Curtain), with caps on the wheel arches that reduce the gap between the tires and the body. And the body silhouette is Delphin-style.

Sweet workaround

Designer Simon Loasby made these aerodynamic measures look good. However, not all of his wishes were fulfilled. “I would have liked to make the big rear spoiler retractable, but the costs were too high.” That’s why the designers integrated the light signature, which is important for aerodynamics, into the spoiler. This workaround makes the rear the best part of the Ioniq 6, especially in the dark.

However: Optional side mirror cameras provide only three kilometers more range than conventional mirrors. The customer must decide for himself whether this is worth the as yet unknown additional cost. After all, we get used to mirror-image monitors under the A-pillars pretty quickly on our first test drive. And by default, the blind spot warning system also draws attention.

Range of more than 600 kilometers

Aerodynamic tricks take effect. According to the WLTP measurement cycle, the range version of the Ioniq 6 can cover 614 kilometers on one battery charge. In this case, the electric sedan is rear-wheel drive, has a battery with a capacity of 229 hp (168 kW) and 77.4 kilowatt hours (kWh). A comparison with the technically similar Ioniq 5, whose range is 107 kilometers less on the same ride, shows how much aerodynamics brings.

The Ioniq 6 is also available with a smaller 53 kWh battery and 151 hp (111 kW). This ride should reduce consumption to less than 14 kWh/100 kilometers, meaning the range should be around 400 kilometers. The top model is the all-wheel drive version with two electric motors that, together with the large battery, provide a system output of 325 hp (239 kW). With a maximum torque of 605 Nm, the Ioniq accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds and reaches a top speed of 185 km/h.

Quiet – but bumpy

We choose all-wheel drive for our test drive. It operates the front axle only when necessary and usually drives with economical rear-wheel drive. The calmness of the interior is striking, thanks to the smooth underbody, acoustic glass and especially carefully closed doors. On the other hand, the chassis can be adjusted to be more comfortable and to push the road surface less directly onto the backs of the passengers.

Initially, the on-board computer showed a range of 453 kilometers with fully charged batteries. During our test drive, which took us around country roads and highways, we encountered a very acceptable average consumption of 17.5 kWh/100 km. This corresponds to a range of 441 kilometers without recovery. Like all electric Hyundais, the Ioniq 6 has 800-volt onboard technology with a charging capacity of 240 kW. This means that the batteries in the fast charger can be charged from 5 to 80 percent in 18 minutes. In addition, the electric grill or other appliances can be powered from the drive battery.

tightly calculated

With a length of 4.85 meters, the Ioniq 6 offers more than enough space. However, the aerodynamic silhouette is cramped: in the rear seats, the head area quickly becomes cramped for taller adults. Also, access to the trunk is narrow and the loading threshold is a little high. The fact that the tailgate mechanism is not covered can be explained by the cost and weight savings. The strict calculation is also reflected in the high plastic ratio in the interior. But Hyundai does not promise a luxurious interior – for the brand, value for money is more important.

So how much does the Ioniq 6 cost? It will initially be a particularly well-equipped “Swiss Launch Edition” from just CHF 64,900. It has a large battery and will be available with rear or all-wheel drive from next spring. Cheaper entry-level models with smaller batteries will come later.