Radical Hyundai Ioniq Earth and Venus concepts are out of this world
The new Hyundai Ioniq Venus sedan and Earth SUV are the latest evidence that the Korean brand will not alter its course of blending dramatic styling with its latest EV tech, following the reveal of two concepts for China.
Both are destined to morph into production cars that will share the concepts’ sharp, angular looks and spearhead the launch of the Ioniq sub-brand in China, although the Hyundai Venus and Earth are off the market for export to markets like Europe and Australia.
Instead, their design will go on to inspire future Hyundai EVs and are evidence that the brand’s new Art of Steel design language will continue to push boundaries in the electric age.
Unlike the Ioniq models sold in Australia, for the first time the Chinese Hyundais will come with both all-electric power and the car-maker’s brand-new range-extender hybrid technology, which employs a small combustion engine to banish range anxiety.
The brash sedan and striking SUV will also boast advanced driver-assist tech that has been developed in cooperation with Hyundai’s Chinese partners, with the Venus and Earth to launch with an AI-powered hands-off driving capability.
Beneath the skin it is not known if the Earth and Venus are based on the car-maker’s now ageing E-GMP platform, but the evidence of both cars coming with a range-extender hybrid suggests a switch to an all-new or heavily overhauled architecture.
Hyundai has yet to reveal full details of its new concepts, but the Venus is said to be inspired by a single curve design and looks like it picks up where the now-cancelled Honda 0 Series sedan left off, with sharp, wedge-shaped front styling and a smooth egg-shaped one-box design.
Inside, the Venus sports an octagonal-shaped steering wheel and fabric and Alcantara-wrapped surfaces, plus an ultra-wide infotainment system, sporty gold metallic trim and a classy ambient lighting system.
The Earth SUV, meanwhile, features a Jaguar I-PACE-style cab-forward body shape, a raised ride height and tough black plastic body cladding suggesting it will possess real off-road capability.
Inside, the pillarless cabin and rear-hinged doors reveal a space that sports people-mover levels of versatility, plus a pair of rear recliners that are able to swivel to aid access to the light and spacious cabin, which features a novel four-pane glass roof.
Guaranteeing comfort, the Earth’s Air-hug seats feature some air modules within them that adjust to body shapes of all sizes.
As part of the launch of its ‘Ioniq Universe’, where products orbit around the consumer (that makes us the Sun), all future models have been confirmed will be named after planets. Sales of Uranus should be huge.
It has not been confirmed but it is expected that both the Hyundai Earth SUV and Venus sedan should be on sale in the Chinese market as soon as early next year.
