The hotly anticipated Ioniq 5 has been a long time coming considering it was first previewed as the Concept 45 during the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2019. It wasn’t until February 2020 when the first spy shots of camouflaged prototypes were caught testing in public before Hyundai kicked off what has turned out to be a lengthy teaser campaign.
The production version was originally scheduled to debut on Tuesday, but Hyundai ultimately decided to delay the world premiere until the middle of the month due to the worrying situation in Europe related to the coronavirus pandemic. A new report published by Hankook Ilbo claims to have an accurate date as the Ioniq 5 will finally break cover on February 16. Interestingly, the South Korean daily newspaper claims the EV is initially going on sale in Europe.
There’s a very good reason for that as automakers selling vehicles in the European Union will have to cut down their average fleet CO2 emissions to 95 g/km by the end of the year or else they’ll be forced to pay hefty emissions fines. Therefore, Hyundai is prioritizing the Old Continent for the Ioniq 5’s rollout before introducing the electric crossover outside of the EU.
Some Hyundai divisions in Europe are already taking preorders for the company’s first vehicle to ride on the E-GMP platform. South Korea will follow suit on February 22, with North American dealers to begin accepting preorders from the second half of 2021, according to Hankook Ilbo.
The article goes in-depth regarding the vehicle’s specifications, claiming it will come with a choice of two batteries: 58 kWh and 73 kWh. With the smaller battery, it’ll allegedly cover up to 450 kilometers (280 miles) per the WLTP regime, but the range could grow to 510 kilometers (317 miles) provided the Ioniq 5 is fitted with the optional solar roof. As for the bigger pack, it will allow the EV to cover as much as 550 kilometers (342 miles) between charges. The already confirmed 800V fast-charging system will juice up the battery to 80 percent in just 18 minutes, with five minutes of charge providing 100 km of range.
The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 will reportedly offer support for over-the-air updates (OTA) and a massive 44-inch head-up display with augmented reality technology. Side cameras instead of conventional mirrors are also planned, while the cargo capacity is believed to stand at a generous 600 liters. A massive three-meter wheelbase should translate into a spacious interior cabin.
February 16 is only about a week and a half away, so the wait is nearly over.
Source: Hankook Ilbo
