Hyundai has formally debuted its Ioniq 9 prematurely of the LA Auto Present, with an idea car-like inside that allows you to swivel the 2nd row seats and switch your automotive right into a lounge.
We’ve been listening to concerning the Ioniq 9 for a while now, and the time has lastly come for its launch.
In an occasion prematurely of the LA Auto Present, beginning this Friday and with a media preview day tomorrow (which Electrek can be in attendance for), Hyundai confirmed off the Ioniq 9 which can formally be unveiled on the Auto Present (you possibly can watch by way of livestream) on the morning of Nov twenty first.
The automotive is what we anticipated – a big, 3-row SUV, very similar to the EV9, the Ioniq 9’s cousin that’s constructed on the identical platform by Hyundai’s sister firm, Kia.
Nevertheless it additionally has some options we didn’t count on – like somewhat extra readability on that “lounge-like” inside we heard about, which seems to not simply be advertising fluff in any respect. It truly is like a lounge, full with la-z-boy fashion footrests and swiveling seats so you possibly can face your folks. Extra on that in a bit.
The Ioniq 9 comes with a maybe excessively-large 110.3kWh battery (that additional 300Wh makes an enormous distinction), providing as much as 335 miles of vary on the Lengthy-Vary RWD mannequin with 19-inch wheels. 20- and 21-inch wheels are additionally accessible, we think about with decrease ranges.
The big battery will retain the E-GMP platform’s glorious DC charging efficiency, with the flexibility to cost from 10-80% in 24 minutes, assuming you’re related to a succesful charger (Hyundai says 350kW “below optimum situations”).
The Lengthy-Vary mannequin could have a 160kW (215hp) rear motor, and a further 70kW (94hp) entrance motor in the event you get the AWD mannequin. Efficiency AWD can be accessible with 160kW motors on each axles.
The lengthy vary RWD mannequin will do 0-100km/h (0-62mph) in 9.4 seconds, AWD in 6.7 seconds, and Efficiency AWD in 5.2 seconds (or, in the event you favor 0-60, the Efficiency mannequin can do it in 4.9).
The car is massive, as you’d count on out of a 3-row SUV, at 5,060mm (199.2in) lengthy, 1,980mm (78in) vast and 1,790mm (70.5in) excessive. That is 2 inches longer than its sister automotive the EV9, and 1 inch much less lengthy than the Rivian R1S.
Exterior design retains a few of the design language of the (glorious) Ioniq 5, however bigger and extra rounded-off. Particularly, it retains a few of the dot-matrix/pixel aesthetic of the lights.
I’ve to say I don’t love the roundedness of it – the design of the Ioniq 5 feels extraordinarily in keeping with quite a lot of straight strains all through, whereas the rounded hood and prolonged rear finish of the 9 spoil that consistency to some extent (and talking of the rear… it nearly appears somewhat hearse-like, to me).
By the way, with the Ioniq 5 and EV6, one is extra boxy and the opposite is extra rounded – and the identical factor has occurred with the Ioniq 9 and EV9, solely in reverse. The Ioniq 9 is extra rounded and the EV9 is extra boxy. So, as soon as once more, these two comparable automobiles have differentiated themselves sufficient that we count on the market can be break up, with many purchasers liking one and disliking the opposite, that means little cannibalization between the 2.
The inside appears extremely spacious, although to this point we haven’t had an opportunity to expertise it ourselves. Most 3-row SUVs on this measurement class do have considerably cramped third rows, so we’re curious if Hyundai has managed to do some type of magic in that respect.
And along with rear and frunk storage (with a frunk able to holding 88L in RWD and 52L in AWD fashions), the middle console presents a considerable amount of storage inside (18.2L, break up between an higher and decrease tray), and could be slid backwards and forwards to permit simpler motion between entrance or rear seats.
And talking of magic, Hyundai has truly performed one thing new right here – an inside with swiveling center seats, to show the automotive right into a lounge.
We’ve seen comparable interiors on numerous idea vehicles, however understandably they by no means make it to manufacturing. It’s undoubtedly an attention-grabbing function, however who actually makes use of their automobiles like that?
Nicely, Hyundai thinks that individuals will, so it’s supplied swiveling 2nd-row seats to permit for this. Nevertheless, it says that these seats can be accessible “in chosen markets solely,” and it has declined to say precisely which markets these are but. We additionally think about this may solely apply to the 6-seat configuration, slightly than 7-seat.
The seats don’t simply swivel although, in addition they recline and have a leg relaxation. Hyundai is looking these its “Leisure Seats,” and the primary and second row seats will each be able to this feat. It says this can be notably helpful for individuals who need to get comfy throughout car charging (although, on an optimum 350kW charger, 24 minutes is hardly a lot time for a nap).
And that charging can be completed by way of a NACS port – making this, we predict, the primary non-Tesla car to debut and be bought with solely a NACS port at any time within the mannequin’s existence. Different E-GMP automobiles are switching over to NACS, however the Ioniq 5 for instance has been out for a few years now, so there are many CCS Ioniq 5s on the market, however that received’t be the case for the Ioniq 9.
Like different E-GMP automobiles, it is going to be in a position to discharge the battery by way of vehicle-to-load (V2L) to energy units, although we didn’t get readability on how a lot complete output it’ll have. Different E-GMP vehicles often high out round 1.8kW, so sufficient to run some common retailers, however not sufficient to energy a home.
The Hyundai Ioniq 9 can be accessible in Korea and the US within the first half of 2025, after which will come to Europe and different markets later. The US model can be constructed at Hyundai’s plant in Georgia – one other instance of a automotive delivered to the US by the home sourcing provisions of President Biden’s EV push (and which could possibly be put into Jeopardy if Dumb & Dumber get their method in making an attempt to kill this boon for US manufacturing).
We don’t have pricing or all tech specs but, so keep tuned as there’s nonetheless extra to come back.
Additionally, you possibly can watch the official debut livestream over at Hyundai’s web site, beginning at 9:10am PST November twenty first. And Electrek can be on the LA Auto Present to ask round and see if we will get any lingering questions answered.
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