Scheduled to premiere on June 27 at the 2024 Busan Motor Show, the forthcoming Ioniq 7 has been spied charging alongside Kia's facelifted EV6. Based on the same platform as the compact-sized EV6, the Ioniq 7 is actually twinned with the EV9.
Citing a person familiar with the South Korean automaker, Automotive News understands that Hyundai could rename this fellow to Ioniq 9. Considering the EV9's name and the Ioniq 9 trademark filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on August 10, 2021, the report does hold water. But alas, Hyundai refused to confirm or deny the changeover from Ioniq 7 to 9.
Previously rumored to be underpinned by the upcoming eM platform, the battery-electric family hauler definitely resembles the SEVEN concept from the 2021 edition of AutoMobility LA. From a visual standpoint, the most obvious connection is the so-called Parametric Pixel exterior lighting.
The concept further boasts pixel-inspired taillights arranged similarly to a full-width light bar. Pictured with heavy camouflage over the rear end, the real thing is likely to mirror the show car's taillight design. Hyundai Motor Company waxed lyrical about the SEVEN's 3.2-meter wheelbase, which is 100 millimeters longer than that of the EV9.
3,200 and 3,100 millimeters convert to 126 and 122 inches, making the SEVEN concept and EV9 that bit more practical than the internal combustion-engined Palisade and Telluride. Said crossovers measure 2,900 millimeters or 114.2 inches between their axles, and both come standard with a Hyundai-developed naturally aspirated V6 powerplant.
Photo: Baldauf
As opposed to the front-biased Palisade and Telluride, the EV9 features rear-wheel drive as standard. This, in turn, should apply to the Ioniq 7 as well. Hyundai quoted a driving range of 300-plus miles (483-plus kilometers) for the SEVEN concept, and that sounds plausible for the Ioniq 7 as well. After all, the highest EPA-rated range estimate for the EV9 is 304 miles (489 kilometers).
The version rated at 304 miles is dubbed Light Long Range RWD, implying a larger battery than the entry-level Light RWD. A quick glance over the specs sheet reveals 76.1 kWh for the Light RWD and 99.8 kWh for the Light Long Range RWD. Similar to the Ioniq 6 sedan and Ioniq 5 crossover, the Ioniq 7 – or whatever it may be called – sports an 800V electrical system with V2L to boot.
Vehicle to load means an electric vehicle that doubles as a wheeled power source with the help of an external adaptor. Otherwise put, you can use the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 to charge domestic appliances, camping equipment, or an e-bike. Unfortunately for prospective customers, the Ioniq 7 won't be affordable. Pricing for the EV9 kicks off at $54,900, while the Telluride is $36,190 at the very least.
On the flip side, remember that South Korea's largest automaker will assemble the Ioniq 7 for the US market at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America. The zero-emission people carrier should be closer in pricing to the South Korean-built Palisade after the $7,500 federal tax credit for locally produced EVs with locally produced batteries.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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