We are only a couple of weeks away from the world premiere of the hotly anticipated Ioniq 5 as Hyundai has announced the dedicated EV will premiere around mid-February. Meanwhile, prototypes have been spotted out and about undergoing final testing at home in South Korea. A camouflaged vehicle carrying the full production body was caught on camera by a Tesla Model 3 driver.
The video starts off with a close look at the Ioniq 5 and its charging ports accompanied on the right side by a collection of illuminated squares in a Tetris-like arrangement. Presumably, the interesting squares are there to neatly show the battery charge. There’s also a close button below the squares, suggesting the fuel cap can be electrically closed at the simple push of a button.
We also get familiar with the pop-out door handles that remain flush with the body when not in use to make the side profile sleeker and improve aerodynamic efficiency to achieve greater range. The side cameras replacing conventional mirrors should also optimize airflow, but these are unlikely to be legal in all markets. In fact, this particular prototype had the traditional glass mirrors.
The near-production prototype sat on large 20-inch wheels wrapped in 255/45 R20 Michelin tires and had virtually the same design as the alloys fitted to the Concept 45. Speaking of which, the Ioniq 5 will virtually inherit the boxy shape and design from the showcar unveiled back in September 2019. The pixel-like headlights and taillights are a spitting image of those fitted to the concept car, lending the electric vehicle a smart look.
Riding on the E-GMP platform dedicated to EVs, the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 will be offered with a choice of rear- and all-wheel drive, single and dual electric motors, along with several batteries. We’re expecting a large 73-kWh pack with more than 300 miles of range and a fast-charge to 80 percent in as little as 18 minutes. The interior should be impressively roomy thanks to a massive 3,000-mm (118.1-inch) wheelbase.
The wait is nearly over considering the big debut is only a few days away, with sales likely kicking off later this year. Sister brands Kia and Genesis will also unveil new electric vehicles based on the E-GMP architecture later this year, so 2021 is shaping up to be a busy year in terms of EVs for the South Korean brands.
Source: 분당프로도 / YouTube
