Hyundai Brought the Goods to the LA Auto Show

Hyundai has had a busy week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The automaker unveiled the N Vision 74 Concept that it previously teased, and it pulled back the curtain on the new Ioniq 6, a sleek electric sedan with a stunning interior.

First, the concept. Hyundai says the retro-styled N Vision 74 Concept highlights its mid-to-long-term performance ambitions, so it’s possible we could see its pixelated, 80s-fresh design on an electric sports car sometime soon. The car pays homage to the Giugiaro-penned Hyundai Pony Coupe from 1974 and features a unique hybrid powertrain.

The 74’s fuel cell system develops up to 670 horsepower and gets a motor mounted on both rear wheels. The setup enables electric torque vectoring, which Hyundai says can be configured for track driving. Since it uses hydrogen reactions to create electricity, the car fuels at a station instead of needing a charge. That said, the car still offers a charging port and supports 800V technology. The top speed is more than 155 mph, and the range extends past 373 miles.

Hyundai also gave more details on the upcoming Ioniq 6 sedan. Where the Ioniq 5 is a blocky crossover with unique pixelated light fixtures, the 6 is a ravishing sedan with sweeping lines and optimized aerodynamics. Company executives said the automaker intentionally chose a completely different design for the car. “Much like chess pieces on a board, each one with a distinct look and functionality, but part of the same family. Hyundai designs with diverse lifestyles in mind rather than with a one-style-fits-all approach.” That said, the two share a common interior and lighting design philosophy.

Several drivetrain configurations are available. The car gets a 77.4-kWh battery and can be configured with a rear-only or a front-rear motor setup. The all-wheel drive model gets combined output of 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque, which Hyundai says is good for a 0-6- mph time of fewer than five seconds. Single-motor models deliver 340 miles of range, and dual-motor models return 310 miles.

The Ioniq 6’s sexy shape delivers a 0.22 drag coefficient, and Hyundai says the car features more than 700 “Parametric Pixels” throughout the car’s lighting fixtures. Inside, the car gets a 12.3-inch gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The steering wheel features an interactive light function that shows the state of charge and reacts to voice controls.

Hyundai focused heavily on sustainable materials with the car. Its interior features eco-process leathers or PET fabric seats. The dash is covered in a thermoplastic skin, and plant-derived materials were used in the headliner and interior paints. Certain parts of its exterior are colored with recycled pigment paint from used tires and with bamboo charcoal pigment paint.

[Image © 2022 Tim Healey/TTAC]

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