Kia and Hyundai are among the few global automakers who don't worry about the recent EV market slowdown and push through with their battery-powered zero emissions vehicle plans.
Kia is a bit ahead of schedule, it seems, because it already has the Soul EV, Niro EV, EV6, and EV9 on sale across various markets, and the EV5 is coming soon. Even more so, the South Korean automaker has also started the teasing game for two models – the refreshed EV6 and the smallest member of the family, EV3.
On the other hand, Hyundai has the quirky Kona Electric on sale in America from almost $33k, along with the Ioniq 5, which is a bit more expensive, starting at $41,800. No worries, the brand also has many interesting alternatives – like the Tucson Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid, Santa Fe Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid, as well as the high-performance Ioniq 5 N or the fuel cell Nexo.
Naturally, since both Kia and Hyundai presented concepts for three-row family-oriented all-electric SUVs and the Kia EV9 is already out and about in America, everyone is eagerly expecting the Hyundai Ioniq counterpart. Spied extensively throughout its prototype career, the largest Ioniq model is probably in the final stages of development – and the premiere is scheduled on June 27 at the 2024 Busan Motor Show.
Based on the same E-GMP architecture as the Kia EV6 and EV9, as well as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, this model was naturally called Ioniq 7 by everyone. However, as it turns out, the rumor mill now believes that Hyundai might actually rename the three-row CUV to Ioniq 9 – and there's also a trademark filled in the United States along with the existing Kia EV9 nameplate to substantiate it.
Whatever it will be called, it's still a hot subject for the rumor mill and its spy photographers, as well as the imaginative realm of digital car content creators. Most recently, the digital creator NYMammoth loves both New York City and South Korea, which is why many of his virtual creations focus on the American lineup of Kia and Hyundai – and his latest virtual design project centers around the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 7 or 9.
The pixel master has already settled on the latter nameplate, and in this behind-the-scenes making-of video, he shows us the process of taking a camouflaged prototype and turning it into a 'normal-looking' vehicle along with the sources of inspiration and even some comparisons between the Ioniq 5 and Kia's EV9. Additionally, he doesn't forget to give us some additional color options so that we can select in advance our favorite hue for the big three-row battery-powered crossover SUV. So, what do you think? Will the Hyundai Ioniq 7 or 9 look like this or not?
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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