The Korean auto giant had earlier decided to rename the SEVEN Concept as the Ioniq 9.
The Hyundai Ioniq 9 electric SUV was slated to debut at the recently concluded 2024 Busan International Mobility Show in South Korea. However, that didn’t happen. Note that the Ioniq 9 was first showcased as a SEVEN Concept at the LA 2021 Auto Show. Going by the nomenclature of Hyundai, it was thought that the EV would be called the Ioniq 7. However, earlier in the year, Hyundai decided to call it the Ioniq 9. This can’t just be a name change but a concrete strategy to make the Ioniq 9 the flagship SUV.
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Hyundai Ioniq 9 Electric SUV Debut Delayed
As per a report by The Korean Car Blog, Hyundai could now launch the Ioniq 9 by the end of this year. There have been numerous instances online which capture the large 7-seat, 3-row electric SUV testing on public roads. Despite heavy camouflage, the silhouette and road presence of the butch SUV is evident. At the front, it will get LED DRLs on the bonnet with the Parametric LED headlamps down below.
On the sides, the sheer length of the SUV indicates that this has to be the flagship model. The alloy wheels on the test mules bear an elegant design pattern. It will most likely not make it to production. I expect a more aerodynamic design like we see on the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6. Additionally, the EV gets flush-fitting door handles, black side pillars and a slightly boxy appearance. At the rear, the boot compartment will bear LED taillamps with a vertical setup on the sides.
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Specs
In terms of the exact specifications, most things remain unclear just yet. Still, there are high chances that it will borrow the electric powertrain from the Kia EV9. Hence, we might witness either a 76.1 kWh or a 99.8 kWh battery pack. In the most aggressive version of the EV9, this mill outputs a respectable 378 hp and 700 Nm of maximum power and torque. The official WLTP range is 349 miles (562 km).
Furthermore, it will utilize the 800-volt architecture which will support 350 kW DC ultra-fast charging. This charger could recover 154 miles (248 km) of range in just 15 minutes. There will be options of choosing between either a single-motor RWD or a dual-motor AWD configuration. At a later stage, we could even get an N variant for performance enthusiasts.
| Specs (exp.) | Hyundai Ioniq 7 |
| Battery | 76.1 kWh or 99.8 kWh |
| Drivetrain | RWD / AWD |
| Power | 200 hp (RWD) / 378 hp (AWD) |
| Torque | 350 Nm (RWD) / 700 Nm (AWD) |
| Range | 349 miles (562 km) [WLTP] |
| Platform | E-GMP |
| Charging | 350 kW DC, 800-volt – 18 minutes (10-80%) |
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Learn Electric Cars Says
The delay in the debut of the Hyundai Ioniq 9 electric SUV is due to the fact that the Korean auto giant wants to ensure that once it is revealed, it offers all the necessary elements (in terms of design, styling, features and tech) to indicate that it remains the pinnacle of luxury from Hyundai. Even though EV sales have slowed down in the major EV markets in the world including the U.S., China and Europe, carmakers like Hyundai and Kia have been having a great time on the sales charts.
Their EVs strike a perfect balance between the latest tech, features, styling, affordability and performance. Going forward, the plans to introduce more affordable products like the Inster to cater to an even wider range of audience are in place. Similarly with Kia, we have witnessed the launch of the EV3. The industry is leaning toward affordability to spur demand going forward. Still, there will always be decent demand for large 7-seat, 3-row SUVs like the Hyundai Ioniq 9.