Photo courtesy of Hyundai.

Photo courtesy of Hyundai.

The Hyundai IONIQ will be offered with electric, hybrid, or plug-in hybrid options within a single body type, the company has announced.

With a global launch set for January 2016 in Korea, followed by the Geneva and New York auto shows in March 2016, the IONIQ’s chassis is meant to provide responsive handling while remaining efficient in each of its three powertrain configurations, according to the automaker.

In its fully-electric (EV) form, the IONIQ is powered by a high capacity lithium ion battery. The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version combines a fuel-efficient energy with battery power obtained by charging the car with electricity, while the hybrid (HEV) utilizes the gasoline engine and motion of the car to charge the on-board battery, which returns enhanced efficiency by supplementing the engine’s power, according to the automaker.

The automaker said that the automobile’s name "references the elements of its creation.” It further explains that, “An ion is an electrically-charged atom, linking to the car’s clever combination of electrified powertrains. The second part of the name references the unique offering it brings to the Hyundai range, demonstrating the brand’s environmental commitment and willingness to maximize choice for its customers.”

0 Comments