As some of you will recall, the Prophecy concept was supposed to make a big splash at last year’s Geneva Motor Show. However, Hyundai had no other way but to reveal the stunning EV online after the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The swoopy zero-emissions sedan was seen by a lot of people as a modern four-door take on a classic Porsche 911, and we can see why.
The production version coming next year will carry the less appealing Ioniq 6 moniker, and in the meantime, Hyundai still needs to iron out all the kinks by doing some last-minute testing. A near-production prototype has been spotted somewhere in the United States while carrying less disguise than ever before.
While it doesn’t seem to look as dramatic as the concept car before it, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 should look quite interesting for a sedan. The bulge hiding at the back is likely a sizeable trunk lid spoiler incorporating the third brake light in the same vein as the Prophecy had. Because of the disguise, we can’t see the electronic pop-out handles of the concept, which have already been put into production on the Ioniq 5 electric SUV.
Riding on the E-GMP platform, the production-ready Ioniq 6 will have traditional rear doors and B-pillars instead of the showcar’s spectacular suicide doors. We are hearing the car has been delayed until May or June 2022 because Hyundai allegedly is making some design changes as well as improving the sedan’s range, according to a report from The Korea Economic Daily.
Specifically, both front and rear bumpers are reportedly going under the knife and Hyundai wants to incorporate an illuminated front grille. Changes to the headlights are also in order, so it looks like the Ioniq 6 will be subjected to quite a few visual modifications, presumably to bring its design in line with the Prophecy.
The start of production is allegedly being pushed back by two or three months, and based on internal documents cited by The Korea Economic Daily, the vehicle’s length will increase by 20 millimeters. That will make it nearly as long as the Grandeur sedan, while the battery is rumored to grow from 72.6 kWh to 77.4 kWh.
Following the electric sedan’s launch sometime in 2022, the Ioniq 7 will be ready for 2024 as a larger electric SUV positioned above the Ioniq 5.
Source: KindelAuto / YouTube, The Korea Economic Daily
