There is no question about the rapid adoption of EVs over internal combustion engines and the future outlook of the same. While people still preferred combustion engine vehicles for a long time, primarily due to their design, recent entries in the EV world have changed that. Automakers such as the Mercedez-Benz with the EQS, Hyundai with its Ioniq range, and the BMW with its i-series have all leveled up the EV game with fascinating looks and performance. And, now Hyundai is coming out with the Ioniq 7, an all-electric SUV that is sure to keep everyone at the edge of their seats.
The Ioniq 7 will be the brand’s largest electric vehicle, with a seven-seat configuration. Though the Ioniq 7 release date is expected for 2024, Hyundai unveiled the Ioniq SEVEN Concept at the 2021 Automobility show in Los Angeles. The Ioniq Concept relooks at the electric vehicle customer experiences and upgrades mobility and sustainability for the benefit of people, joining the forces in the ongoing electric green revolution. The Ioniq 7 SUV looks like a car for the future, but the future, in this case, is not too far away. The vehicle comes with the best EV technology built on Hyundai-Kia’s E-GMP platform, as well as an extraordinary-looking exterior and interior made with recycled and renewable materials of top-most quality. There’s a lot more story to the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 7 Concept, and here are the ten things you need to know about the car.
1 The Hyundai Ioniq 7 Will Be A Big SUV
As Hyundai prepares to release its largest all-electric vehicle, we all wonder how big it is. Well, it is going to be massive. The Ioniq 7 is around 197 inches long, 78 inches wide, and 70 inches high, with a large wheelbase. The wheelbase of 126-inch is almost identical to the Mercedez-Benz S-Class and yet larger than the Ioniq 5 or even the Hyundai Palisade. This larger wheelbase will lead to an expansion of the cabin space and make room for the bigger battery pack. The Hyundai Ioniq 7 will be a bulky SUV weighing over 5500 pounds. This is no surprise as the Ioniq 5 itself weighed over 4,600 pounds in its all-wheel drive guise. However, the larger battery in the Ioniq 7 will offset the extra weight. It could offer up to 100 kWh of energy with an improved energy density with the fourth-generation battery technology of Hyundai.
2 It Is Straight Out From The Future
The Hyundai Ioniq 7 SUV is based on the SEVEN Concept that was presented at the AutoMobility, LA, in 2021 for the very first time by Hyundai, showcasing its pathway to autonomous driving. The Concept relies on revamping traditional transportation with a sustainable, flexible, and unique alternative that makes you feel at home. The Ioniq 7 embraces this Concept at its very core. The SEVEN Concept showcased joystick-controlled driving, a true fascination for many in the automotive world. The Hyundai Ioniq 7 is expected to carry on some, if not all, of the legacy the Concept represents. The Ioniq 7 driver seat has a retractable Control Stick that can be tucked away and hidden when not in use. Like a cherry on top, the cockpit is compact, without the regular driving apparatus like in traditional combustion engine vehicles. To top it off, the rotating lounge chairs that replace the conventional seating in other EVs can be customized depending on the autonomous driving mode.
3 The Exterior Is Nothing Short Of Remarkable
Though the Hyundai Ioniq 7 comes with the most innovative technology in the form of the Hyundai-Kia E-GMP, it still comes with a unique design proposition. The Ioniq 7 perfectly combines classic design with futuristic EV-like features. While the Kia EV9 is more sharp and edgy, the Ioniq 7 is softer and more well-rounded. The car is more low-hanging, with a sloping roofline and a hunched all-glass tail section encased by pixel tailgate lights. Additionally, four-dot interactive Pixel Lights are embedded in the joystick control. It also bears the generic EV-like design elements, such as the flush door handles and camera-based side mirrors. The front grille runs from an end-to-end, drawing similarities from the Kia with sleek headlights merged into the daytime running lamp stripes. It also comes with five-spoke alloys with integrated 'Active Air' flaps that deploy or retract for brake cooling and low-drag purposes.
4 It Will Have An Exceptional Interior With Luxury Comfort
The Ioniq 7 SUV's interior will likely feature the best from the SEVEN Concept. The massive Ioniq 7 will ideally come with a flat floor extending to the third row, giving the car's interior a refreshing new change. The swiveling lounge chairs in the first row of the seating arrangement create a more fluid interior layout. The SEVEN Concept is visible with the pillarless coach doors on the passenger side, which open automatically to reveal the welcome lounge inside. These massive coach doors that open from the middle are a standout feature, as it aids in the ease of getting in and out of the vehicle, unlike the case with other three-row SUVs. The spacious lounge design with the Vision Roof Display features a panoramic OLED screen, making traveling in the Ioniq 7 even more entertaining. The 77-inch OLED screen can display different content depending on the passenger's interest, and the overall interior atmosphere of the car adapts to it for an immersive experience. The Ioniq 7 may also come with a built-in mini fridge and shoe-care compartments for utmost passenger comfort.
5 It Will Be Loaded To The Gills In Terms Of Tech Features
The Ioniq 7 is expected to feature many more similarities with the Ioniq 5, including the Universal Island and Smart Hub. The Universal Hub will have a wireless charging capability with a cooling function to prevent the device from overheating. It can also be moved back for the second-row passengers to access it effortlessly. The moveable console, first seen in the Ioniq 5, can also be expected in the Ioniq 7, with a 27-inch display that instantly turns the vehicle into a personal workspace or even a theater. Furthermore, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring will be a standard feature even in the Ioniq 7. Like the Ioniq 5, you might also see the Augmented Reality Head-Up Display that turns the windshield into a display for navigation, in addition to the lane safety warnings and many more advanced functions.
6 Spacious Cabin And Seating That Deserves A Praise
Though there are many exterior feature similarities you will spot with the Ioniq 7, and Ioniq 5, such as the pixelated lights, the interior of the Ioniq 7 SUV will be a game-changer. Maximizing comfort and space with a space-age layout, Hyundai has gone for a lounge-like experience in the car. The flat floor has given room for an unconventional seating layout with a rear curved bench-like back seat stretching from the third to the second rows. The SEVEN Concept represents autonomous mobility in the future, and the interior layout and seating do justice to it. The swiveling lounge chairs for the driver and front-row passenger that can be moved when not in transit is another futuristic design by Hyundai. The cabin will come packed with more technology, including the NVIDIA Connected Drive software with over-the-air update capability that you can see in the Ioniq 5 as well. We can expect a lot more drive-assisted features on the Ioniq 7, too, similar to the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6.
7 The Ioniq 7 Features A Unique Aerodynamic Formula
Hyundai breaks free from any limitations of the internal combustion designs with its first-ever Sport Utility Electric Vehicle (SUEV), the Ioniq 7. What differentiates the Ioniq 7 from a standard SUV is its aerodynamic form. The extended wheelbase and the low edge of the hood complement the curved and sloping roofline to give it a clean and muscular appearance. The wheels are equipped with an active air flap system to reduce air resistance, improving the overall aerodynamic performance of the EV. Adopting the SEVEN Concept, the Ioniq 7 comes with over 700 signature Parametric Pixel Lights distributed at multiple places, including the headlamps, lower-front sensors, rear lamps, air vent garnishes as well as the console indicator to deliver the Welcome Light Sequence on switching on the car. It will also feature seven pixels at the front spoiler for displaying the charging status. The SEVEN Concept is a future-ready car with minimal design and exemplary aerodynamic performance that is bound to change the EV experience for people.
8 Decent Performance And Driving Range
The Ioniq 7 will come out in two-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations. The all-wheel drive will come with 308 horsepower and a ground clearance of over eight inches. It will likely come with SK Innovation and CATL battery packs, as Hyundai aims for a driving range exceeding 300 miles. The Ioniq 7 will also come with fast charging capabilities with a 350 kW fast charger for charging the battery from 10-80 percent in about 20 minutes. Moreover, the Hyundai E-GMP platform is benefited from the new silicon-carbide (SiC) power modules, delivering better performance and a more extended driving range over the previous generation units.
9 The Ioniq 7’s Concept Of Hygiene And Safety Is A First
The SEVEN Concept takes hygiene and safety very seriously. With better interior spaces and driving experience, people will likely spend more time inside the vehicle, and to ensure their safety, it will feature several advanced safety measures. To keep the interiors as neat and clean as possible, the SEVEN Concept features eco-friendly materials like mineral plaster, bamboo wood and carpet, bio-resin, and interior paint based on several renewable sources. The Ioniq 7 is expected to carry out these features, including the copper and hygiene-treated fabric for the seating. The Ioniq 7 will also be equipped with a Hygiene Airflow System that moves fresh air toward the passengers and expels the used air most efficiently. The system can activate automatically when in motion and otherwise for a comfortable atmosphere.
The UVC Sterilization feature of the vehicle prepares the car for the next journey. It is activated once the passengers and the driver leave the vehicle, and the control stick, first-row storage drawer, and speakers pop up for the sanitizing UVC lights to clean. There are also sanitizing storage compartments under the Lounge Bench Seat and Universal Island.
10 The Hyundai Ioniq 7 Price - Is It Worth It?
Though concept cars do not always come out the way we expect them to, Hyundai has proven with the Ioniq 5 that they can design production EVs very similar to the concept versions and have them released at a reasonable price. Hyundai hasn't released the price of the Ioniq 7 officially, but we expect it to start at a price range of $50,000, which is currently the price of the Hyundai Palisade's top model, a seven-seater SUV. The Hyundai Ioniq 7 price can be higher than the estimated one due to the car's futuristic look and feel, in addition to the advanced features.