In March 2024, Hyundai launched the refreshed Ioniq 5, and a few days ago this car achieved a truly respectable result. According to Hyundai, the Ioniq 5 is the first EV to reach an altitude difference of 5,802 meters, which is a new Guinness World Record.
For this journey, long more than 4,900 km, the Ioniq 5 was equipped with a 72.6 kWh battery that was used in the previous Long Range version, while the refreshed Ioniq 5 has an 84 kWh battery.
This venture was organized by the Evo India team and Hyundai Motor India Limited and the start was at Umling La at an altitude of 5,799 meters while the finish was in Kuttanad in Kerala, which is three meters below sea level. During the journey, the car struggled with really difficult weather conditions, such as ice, steep roads to wet roads on the coast.
The refreshed Hyundai Ioniq is equipped with new front and rear bumpers, a wider front air intake, a 50 mm extended rear spoiler, and a special body kit decorated with several N Line badges, a new set of aerodynamic 20-inch wheels, a stiffer body, and better shock absorbers for greater comfort.
After China proved itself as a leader in EV production, another Asian country is becoming a center for carbon-neutral vehicle manufacturers. According to the latest information, India could be one of the developing countries that wants to be a leading player in the production of electric cars.
The country has devised a strategy for the development and production of electric cars, although it initially focused specifically on Tesla, which it invited to invest in the construction of a gigafactory, but the American manufacturer has focused on Mexico. However, the announcement of the new President of the United States, Donald Trump, that he will introduce additional tariffs on vehicles imported from Mexico gives India an opportunity to renew negotiations with Tesla. The American manufacturer has already suspended the construction of a factory in Mexico.
The suspension of Tesla Model 2 production in Mexico was the main motive for Musk to go to India, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi canceled the meeting. The Indian government intends to launch its electric car production plan in March 2025, which Tesla and other major manufacturers see as a new opportunity. The plan is to expand aid to existing manufacturers rather than restricting benefits to new plant construction. India is ready to help any manufacturer that invests at least $500 million in electric vehicle production with 50 percent of components sourced locally. The government is also offering a 15 percent import tax cut for up to 8,000 electric cars a year.
Toyota and Hyundai have already shown interest, although it is not known whether they would use existing plants or build new ones. Hyundai already knows that the €500 million spent on research and development will not be included in the total investment, so the Korean company is waiting for the final guidelines for its electric car plan in India.
Volkswagen, which already has plants in India, wants to know if it could spend 75 percent of the total investment in the first three years, rather than the entire $500 million at once. Also, if VW decided to use its factories in Pune, they would have to install new lines separate from those for the production of combustion engine cars.
After a long development and testing period, the new Hyundai Ioniq 9 has finally arrived on the market. It is an all-electric car that will go on sale in South Korea in early 2025, and in Europe at a later date.
The Ioniq 9 has several visual features reminiscent of the SEVEN concept presented a few years ago, such as Parametric Pixel lights, and is the first car from the South Korean company to come without a roof antenna, instead using the windshield for GPS and satellite radio.
With a wheelbase of 3,130 mm, the car offers a spacious cabin enough to accommodate six or seven passengers, and the third-row seats can be rotated. The seats are upholstered in plush materials, which provide comfort on long journeys. Some parts of the interior are covered in environmentally friendly materials, including recycled PET fabric, wool fabric and environmentally treated leather, which emphasizes the car’s environmental credentials.
In front of the driver is a curved screen with a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch infotainment display, and a steering wheel with small green LEDs that allow the driver to monitor the battery level. Additional equipment includes eight speakers, several USB-C ports, which are powered directly from the 110.3 kWh battery, rather than a 12-volt battery, and buyers can also choose a 14-speaker Bose system.
For passenger safety, there are ten airbags, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 2, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Safe Exit Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist and High Beam Assist.
When it comes to the powertrain, the Ioniq 9 is powered by a single rear-mounted electric motor with 218 hp (160 kW) and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque, and offers a range of up to 620 kilometers. Those who want more power can choose the Long Range AWD version powered by a front-mounted electric motor with 323 hp (237 kW). At the top of the range is the Performance version with two electric motors with a total output of 436 hp (321 kW). This version reaches 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, the Long Range AWD reaches 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds, while the base Long Range RWD version reaches 100 km/h in 9.4 seconds. Top speed for all versions is 200 km/h (124 mph). Customers can choose between 19-, 20- and 21-inch wheels, including a set of flagship 21-inch Calligraphy wheels.
The Ioniq 9 is equipped with a 110.3 kWh battery that can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in just 24 minutes thanks to a 350 kW charger.
