Hyundai to axe original Ioniq

HYUNDAI will soon dump its trio of popular electrified Ioniq models as it moves to a new generation of full-electric cars and SUVs.

The three Ioniq models — hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric — broke new ground when launched in Australia in August 2018 by offering buyers a choice of powerplants in one body style.

Now the trio, which have sold 2051 units to date, will cease to be imported in the second half of this year. The most popular version has been the full-electric car, which has been a hit with fleets. A pair of Ioniq Electric cars are still being used as taxis in Perth.

Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) spokesman Guido Schenken told GoAuto that some fleets had ordered the outgoing car after becoming aware of the end of its run.

The timing coincides with the introduction of the new-gen Ioniq 6 sedan, based on the Prophecy concept car and to rival the Tesla Model 3, to be sold alongside the existing Ioniq 5 SUV from the second half of this year.

Hyundai will add a third all-electric Ioniq, the 7, due in 2024. The Ioniq 7 is a seven-seat SUV previewed by the Seven concept and will become Hyundai’s alternative to the internal-combustion engined Santa Fe and Palisade.

In a leaf taken from the Star Wars film franchise book, Mr Schenken said there are no company plans – as yet – to make a numerically (and physically) smaller Ioniq than the 5.

“There’s definitely scope for the range to move down in numbers, but the 6 will be the next Ioniq and arrive here in the second half of this year, launched both globally and locally,” he said.

There are also no plans to launch another Ioniq between the 6 and 7, despite the large time delay.

HMCA will, however, launch three Genesis EVs starting with the GV60, an SUV based on the Ioniq 5’s E-GMP platform dedicated to electric vehicles.

The other two Genesis EVs — called “electrified” by Hyundai — will be the G80 sedan and GV70 SUV. Both these will use the existing ICE platform.

“With the current plans for GV60 to launch around the middle of this year followed shortly by electrified G80 and electrified GV70,” Mr Schenken said.

“There's no pricing announced yet but I will say with the G80 and the GV70, they will be the flagship models in their range so they'll sit above the petrol and diesel versions.

“There will be a price premium for the EV drivetrains.”

He said that HMCA has pushed to get every EV – battery EV or fuel cell – it can get into the Australian market. 

This is in line with Hyundai’s announcement earlier this month that it had sharply increased its EV plans and wanted sales of 1.87 million EVs a year by 2030, up from its previous target of 560,000 units by 2025.