Ioniq 6, 7 confirmed: Hyundai N performance EV odds-on

Fresh from ripping the covers off its long-hyped Ioniq 5 mid-sized electric crossover, Hyundai has announced it will rapidly expand its EV offering.

And high-performance N models are high on the wish list.

Before then, Hyundai has confirmed it will soon boost its EV family with the imminent arrival of the Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 7.

In revealing full details of the Ioniq 5, Hyundai also locked in the launch of an electric sedan, the Ioniq 6, and a large electric SUV, the Ioniq 7.

A small statement at the bottom of the press release announcing the ioniq 5 said: “Following the launch of Ioniq 5, Hyundai will expand its BEV lineup with Ioniq 6, an electric sedan, and Ioniq 7, a large electric SUV.”

Both the Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 7 will be built on Hyundai’s new E-GMP architecture that was designed to take advantage of the packaging benefits of an electric car, with batteries lining the floor and electric motors that take up a lot less space than an internal combustion engine.

EV watchers may recognise the Ioniq nameplate, but in the modern (and future) Hyundai world it’s very different to the hatchback that is still sold as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure electric in Australia.

Ioniq is Hyundai’s new sub-brand, one focused on EVs, technology and a more modern design than anything that has come from the Korean manufacturer to date.

While the maximum WLTP range of the Ioniq 5 is so far claimed at 480km from a 72.6kWh battery, Hyundai has previously said the E-GMP platform that underpins it is capable of 500km-plus between charges.

Hyundai has also said cars built on the E-GMP architecture will be able to scorch to 100km/h in as little as 3.5 seconds, taking the fight to Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW, among others.

While Hyundai is yet to confirm the first N-branded Ioniq – N being the high-performance sub-brand of Hyundai – it appears only a matter of time.

In a global press conference announcing the Ioniq 5, one senior executive confirmed an Ioniq 5 N was very much on the radar.

Hyundai says it can easily live up to the N expectations with electric motors, but it says an Ioniq 5 N has not yet been signed off.

“At this point we have not decided whether the high performance version of Ioniq 5 will be launched,” he said. “In terms of advanced engineering, technology we are ready. We are checking a lot of options and the strategy.

“Please stay tuned and I hope we can share our plan with you in the near future.”

Of course, the head of Hyundai R&D and the Performance division, Albert Biermann, has already confirmed Hyundai will soon have N versions of its EVs. And that high-performance goodness will flow through to sister brands Kia and Genesis, each of which has a comprehensive EV strategy in the works.

Later in the video press conference Hyundai president Jaehoon Chang revisited the topic unprompted to say there were a “variety” of options.

“We can think about it,” he said, strongly hinting that it wouldn’t be long until Hyundai had an N Performance model powered purely by electricity.