After a teaser image campaign, Korean car-maker Hyundai unveiled its Ioniq hybrid car, which will be pitted against the Toyota Prius hybrid. While the pictures of the front end of the car are yet to be released, the picture of the rear shows slim window panels and a high-positioned rear end that looks like a notchback-kind of design.
The Ioniq is built on a new chassis with three low emission powertrains. The hybrid car in its fully-electric (EV) form is powered by a high-capacity lithium-ion battery. The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version combines the fuel-efficient energy with battery power. The hybrid (HEV) utilises the petrol engine and the motion of the car to charge the on-board battery.
Close to 53% of the body panel of the Ioniq has been made using Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) and lightweight aluminum that reduces the weight by a significant margin. The new model saves 12.6kg of weight by using aluminum for parts such as the hood, tailgate and suspension components.
To better the ride and handling, Hyundai has employed a dual lower-arm-type multi-link suspension in the rear. Hyundai Ioniq's petrol hybrid system features a combination of dedicated four-cylinder 1.6-litre GDI engine with 103hp and 146 Nm of torque. It works together with an electric motor generating 43hp. The combined power is transmitted to wheels via the hybrid-exclusive Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT).
The company also gave clarification for the name: "An ion is an electrically-charged atom, linking to the car's clever combination of electrified powertrains". The second part of the name refers to the "unique offering it brings to the Hyundai range" and the "q" depicts the fresh new approach of this advanced, low-emission model.
