next to LA Auto Show This week, Hyundai revealed its all-new three-row all-electric SUV with a number of features that the Korean automaker is sure will appeal to American car buyers.
Ioniq 9 is based on a battery-electric three-row SUV Seven concepts that the company showed in 2021The new EV is built on Hyundai's e-GMP platform, which underpins all other electric Hyundais in the market, including the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 5N. And it will have a 110.3kWh battery which Hyundai says should get more than 300 miles of range for all models.
variety of options
The new Ioniq 9 will come in two versions: Long Range and Performance, each with a rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive option. The long-range RWD produces around 214hp (160kW) and 260 pound-feet of torque (350Nm). The Long Range AWD version will get a 70kW motor at the front (with 255nm torque) and a 160kW motor at the rear (with 350nm torque), although Hyundai has not said whether they will be additive or not.
Performance AWD (no Performance RWD) will get a pair of 160kW motors front and rear. According to Hyundai, only the 600-plus-hp Ioniq 5N will have more power, but we'll have to wait for launch to get final horsepower and torque numbers from the company.
The Ioniq 9 will come with a Tesla Supercharger-supporting North American charging system port, but Hyundai said it will also provide customers with an adapter for non-Tesla chargers. The port is located on the passenger-side rear panel, which can present a problem in Tesla Superchargers with short wires. For example, owners may be forced to take up two or more spaces in overcrowded stalls. (Tesla V4 chargers have longer cables and should reach the charging port, but we'll have to wait for a test vehicle before we can confirm.)
Simon Loasby, senior VP and head of Hyundai Design Center, said that the e-GMP platform determined the location of the charging port on the Ioniq 9.
The new EV will also get access to the Iona charging network. Which is supported by eight automakersAnd it will have bi-directional charging so that owners can Hyundai's house The charging setup can keep their home running during power cuts.
a living room on wheels
Other features include a second row with “Relaxation Seats” (only in the Calligraphy line) that fully recline with a foot rest and massage function to allow four people to relax while the vehicle is charging. The second-row seats will fold into the third row, creating what Loasby calls “furnished space.”
Hyundai designers have included a slideable center console on models with captain's chairs that can move back and forth to create space for walking in the third row or for access by second-row passengers.
There is also a UV-C sterilizer in the glovebox (in overseas markets, this will be in the front tray), which can be used to sterilize your phone or wallet. UV-C sterilizer and sliding console are features that are currently present in the Hyundai Santa Fe.
The new Ioniq 9 will also get over-the-air software updates as well as a new app store that Hyundai is calling “Features on Demand.” Through the App Store, customers can, for a fee, personalize their Ioniq 9 with things like special lighting patterns and digital dash designs, as well as content and games.
“We want to develop features that people actually tell us they are willing to pay for,” said Olabisi Boyle, senior vice president of product planning and mobility strategy at Hyundai Motor North America. He said Hyundai conducted extensive consumer research before moving forward with the plan.
“Gaming was huge, road trip games and trivia, taking pictures and selfies in the car also seemed to be a big thing,” Boyle said. “So the things that are built inside the vehicle are things that we will charge for.” Hyundai confirmed that this will not happen pull a BMW And charge a monthly fee for things like heated seats.
room to grow
Hyundai's current electric lineup includes the Ioniq 5 and 6 – and soon the 9. The company said this odd number bump leaves room in the lineup for potential future vehicles like the Ioniq 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8. Although the company will not elaborate. Essentially, naming leaves room for the future.
Hyundai has not yet announced the final price, but the vehicle will be manufactured At Hyundai's new “Metaplant” in Bryan County, GeorgiaMetaPlant is a joint venture between Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution (LGES) and Hyundai and represents a $7.6 billion investment in the state.
Hyundai has not announced the final price yet
How President-elect Donald Trump's threatened tariff plans will affect the Ioniq 9 and the plant's production remains to be seen, but Trump has already said he plans to Eliminate the $7,500 federal tax credit This has helped millions of Americans buy expensive EVs.
“Pricing for the Ioniq 9 will be announced closer to launch, but we will take into account all relevant market factors to arrive at competitive figures,” said Chris Paukert, senior group manager of product public relations at Hyundai, when asked by Trump. Asked about threats. Federal Tax Credit for EV Purchases And roll back tailpipe emissions rules.
Regardless of what Trump actually implements, Hyundai said it is committed to meeting customers where they are.
“This EV journey was not something we were driven to do,” Boyle told a group of selected journalists before the unveiling. “This is based on our North Star of working towards the progress of humanity and becoming a smart mobility company… Customers want a choice.”
Hyundai said it is still sorting out trim lines for the US market and will offer more details when the car goes into production in the spring of 2025. The Hyundai Ioniq 9 will be a 2026 model with a sale date to be decided sometime soon. Second quarter of next year.