Hyundai is working on a mid-life facelift for its streamlined Ioniq 6 electric sedan, and some of the first development prototypes have been snapped during hot weather testing in Europe.
Despite only going on sale globally in 2022, the sedan equivalent to the retro-styled Ioniq 5 crossover is shown here wearing heavy camouflage disguising the new model’s design details.
It’s unclear how drastic the design revisions will be given the Ioniq 5 got a pretty minor update, but it appears there’s going to be a substantial change to the front end given the extensive black sheets and cladding.
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According to our spy agency, it’s understood Hyundai is looking to boost the Ioniq 6’s driving range – likely with the larger new 84kWh battery already seen in the Ioniq 5, up from the sedan’s current 77.4kWh unit.
This could give the Ioniq 6 a claimed driving range nudging 700km, given the current Extended Range RWD offers up to 614km.
The front design is expected to get a more aggressive look, perhaps more in line with the likes of the similarly-sized and aggressively styled Sonata sedan.
New alloy wheel designs and a revised rear look should complete the exterior changes, hinted at by the camouflaged wheels and covered up rear end on this prototype.
RN22e
Inside, expect the latest connected infotainment array as the latest Hyundai and Kia products.
Perhaps bigger news is the fact the updated Ioniq 6 should see the introduction of the first-ever Ioniq 6 N, previewed by the RN22e concept and based on the same high-performance underpinnings of the bonkers Ioniq 5 N.
That means a proper track-ready hero capable of generating up to 478kW and 770Nm from its dual-motor electric drivetrain.
Compared to the taller and blockier Ioniq 5 N, the Ioniq 6 N will likely be even quicker and more dynamic – expect the 6 to improve on the 5 N’s 3.4-second 0-100km/h claim and offer better driving range, too.
It’s believed the Ioniq 6 N will debut “shortly after” the standard lineup, due to be revealed sometime in 2025.
Despite being pitched as a rival to the popular Tesla Model 3, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 hasn’t proven to be quite as much of a sales hit in Australia.
In 2023, 623 examples were delivered in Australia compared to the 17,347 Model 3s; and year to date in 2024 (to July 31) Hyundai has registered 282 vehicles, down 17.5 per cent on the same period last year.
Even with Tesla no longer officially reporting sales figures to VFACTS, the Model 3 has managed 10,600 registrations during the January to July period in 2024.
The Hyundai even trails more expensive premium models like the BMW i4, which in 2024 has managed 1335 registrations to July 31 – outselling the Korean EV by nearly seven to one.
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