Hyundai Launches IONIQ EV Brand

Hyundai has been doing some great things with their vehicles. The 7-passenger Palisade is a huge hit, and the new Sonata Hybrid nails 54 mpg. Now, it seems they’re going after Tesla with their standalone electric vehicle brand known as Ioniq. The name comes from the trio of enviro-hatchbacks, but the new brand will be a completely new line of vehicles. The first one is the Ioniq 5, based on the angular Concept 45 that debuted in 2019 as a midsize electric crossover evoking styling cues from the 1974 Pony. It should arrive sometime next year. The second vehicle will be even more dramatic, a slick sedan based on the sexy Hyundai Prophecy that was unveiled earlier this year. Known as the Ioniq 6, it will be in showrooms by 2022. Finally, an SUV will come in 2024, and it will be noticeably larger than the Ioniq 5. The brand might even expand beyond the initial three models, but only time will tell. All we know is that the full weight of the Korean carmaker might just start pressing down on the current king of EVs, Tesla.