Hyundai's next E-GMP-based electric SUV will be much larger than expected and become the company's legitimate flagship to take on the best of the American large SUVs!
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Recently, during the presentation at the IAA motor show, Hyundai exposed an image containing the company’s future large SUV along with the Ioniq 6 concept car and the already introduced Ioniq 5 in discussing the future of electric vehicles. This large SUV is purported to be Ioniq 7, which the company has made clear on several occasions of its intention to produce with the targeted date of 2024. We at AutoVision also have made several reports on the upcoming 3-row SUV from the Ioniq sub-brand, and in this episode, we will delve deeper to unveil the potential derive train and battery specifications, along with the more precise design predictions.
the new electric SUV will be the first vehicle to utilize the 6th generation high capacity lithium-ion battery that is known to nearly provide the performance of the 8th-generation solid-state battery
When the silhouette of the upcoming large Ioniq SUV was exposed at the IAA motor show held in Frankfurt Germany, the most striking thing was the body shape. Until now, with only a very limited exposure available to draw upon, most people envisioned a very boxy-shaped SUV similar to the Hyundai Palisade 3-row SUV that the new electric SUV is to replace within the next couple of years. However, the exposed side profile was a much sleeker vehicle with the swept-back windshield and the rounded front. Along with the horizontal light signature that extends the full width of the vehicle, the new large SUV reminded us of Hyundai’s latest Staria minivan that featured a striking spacecraft-like design. Furthermore, the new large SUV is also to inherit the Ioniq family trait. Its LED lighting showcases its signature Parametric Pixels – unique jewel-like design elements that will feature on the exterior of all IONIQ models.
Genesis Large SUV Teaser Image Released IAA Motor Show 2021
Another thing that we can decern from the release image is its substantial size. Standing side by side with the Ioniq 5 and the Ioniq 6 concept, also known as the Hyundai Prophecy, it’s quite easy to tell that the new Ioniq SUV is a huge vehicle in comparison. Ioniq 5’s wheelbase of 3000 mm is already longer than that of Palisades 2900 mm, and it’s certain that the new Ioniq large SUV’s wheelbase would be much longer. It’s not known how big the vehicle would be at this moment, but Hyundai has recently admitted that it would be comparable in size to full-sized SUVs such as Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon. These vehicles have a wheelbase of 121 inches or 3071 mm and a length of 210 inches or 5334 mm, which is substantially bigger than that of the Palisades length of 196 inches or 4980 mm.
Size comparison with IONIQ 6 Concept (Prophecy) and IONQ 5
The size of the upcoming large SUV trio can be estimated from the exposed images of the test mule that was spotted wearing the Palisade façade, where it’s evident that the overall length of the vehicle was stretched by at least 10-inches or 250-mm, which would put it squarely against the likes of the American rivals as Hyundai claimed.
This huge size might be the reason why Hyundai didn’t specify the exact name for the new large SUV at the presentation. It’s likely that Hyundai is rethinking the naming of the new large SUV from the original Ioniq 7 to something like Ioniq 9. This seems like a better name for the new SUV as it would be hard to fathom a vehicle that’s larger than Yukon or Tahoe in size, and would free up 7 and 8 monikers to smaller vehicles such as a rumored sports coupe and a large sedan. Also, this naming change would be putting Ioniq 9 in line with the platform-sharing vehicles to come from Kia and Genesis. Namely EV9 and GV90, respectively.
As for the power, it would also be comparable to the American rivals such as the GMC Yukon that provides 355 to 420 horsepower and 383 to 460 pound-feet of torque. The largest-ever SUV to come from Hyundai would be equipped with a similar power electric system as found in the latest electrified G80 sedan that features two motors front and rear rated at 182-horsepower each to offer the full system power of 364-hp, and a whopping 516-pound-feet of torque. This electric power system is capable of propelling the 5,000-pound G80 electric sedan 0-100-km or 62-mph in around 4.5-seconds by driving all wheels. For the SUV, which should be slightly heavier at 5500 lbs, it should be able to manage the same run at around 5 seconds.
Artist's Impression (Gotcha) of Genesis Large SUV
The heavier weight of the new large electric SUV is not only due to the larger size as Palisade was already about 400-lbs heavier than the I-C-E G80, but also the larger battery. The electrified G80 uses an 87.2-kWh battery and can travel up to 427 km or 265 miles on a single charge, but the new electric SUV is to use a 100-kWh battery, the biggest ever to come from the Korean manufacturer.
Also, SK On, the newly formed battery split-off of SK Innovation has been announced as the provider of the battery, and the new electric SUV will be the first vehicle to utilize the 6th-generation high capacity lithium-ion battery that is known to nearly provide the performance of the 8th-generation solid-state battery, which is still expected to be many years away until the mass-production can be realized.
Initially, the anticipated range of the new large SUV is 550 km or 400 miles with the more advanced models in the future reaching 700 km or 435-miles, utilizing the 6th generation lithium-ion battery requiring only 15 to 18 minutes of charge using the 800V system of the E-GMP. Later on, when the 7th and the final generation of lithium-ion battery is introduced in 2025, it is to have the energy density from 600 Wh/L to 700 Wh/L, which is near solid-state level, and ultimately arrive at 800km or 500 miles maximum range needing only 10 minutes of charge time.
Lithium-Ion vs Solid-State Battery
According to the road map, when the 8th generation solid-state battery is finally production-ready after 2027, the anticipated range is to exceed 900 km or 560-miles.
Also, the new large electric SUV will be the first IONIQ model to come with level 3 self-driving autonomy. It’s to feature Hyundai group's latest Highway Driving Pilot or HDP, which is made up of cameras, radars, and two Li-DAR sensors, which will be the world’s first. Soon to be featured on the upcoming second-generation Genesis G90 flagship sedan, the level-3 autonomy will give the vehicle a nearly full hands-free driving experience. Furthermore, when the development of the level-4 self-driving technology is completed, the system would be upgraded via the vehicle’s O-T-A to provide full hands-free driving.
Genesis G90 (Gen-2) will be the world's first Level-3 self-driving car to feature two Li-DAR
The new large electric SUV or Ioniq 9 is expected to be launched in 2024 at the estimated starting price of $70,000.Other iterations from Kia and Genesis, namely EV9 and GV90, are to follow within 1 year with more power and more luxuries, and an even higher level of tech features.
WATCH THE FULL VIDEO: https://youtu.be/57__3c9nhGw