Hyundai’s electric assault is in full swing. After giving the Ioniq 5 a boost, the Korean brand is preparing to expand the range with a rugged-looking XRT finish. It has now been spotted in the US, where the larger Ioniq 9 is also undergoing final testing. The latter is a three-row SUV, which apparently will not be called Ioniq 7 as initially planned.
The Ioniq 5 won’t be Hyundai’s first model to get the XRT treatment, but the trim level will debut on an electric vehicle. Already available for Santa Cruz, Tucson, Santa Fe and Palisade, the XRT is essentially an appearance package. Don’t expect any real off-road upgrades, as these will mostly be black accents, new wheels, and maybe some fat tires too. We won’t hold our breath for a raised suspension or any other mechanical improvement for that matter.
The Ioniq 5 is expected to arrive for the 2025 model year alongside the already available high-performance N model. Logic tells us that the US-spec variant will inherit the updates we saw on the global model, which also spawned an all-show-no-extra-go N line. Hyundai tweaked the bumpers and grille, while adding a rear wiper and a few more buttons inside.
The Ioniq 9 will essentially be Hyundai’s equivalent of the Kia EV9, with room for six passengers. Speaking of how many people it can seat, the Concept Seven shown in November 2021 was a preview of the brand’s largest electric vehicle to date. The name change will make room for a smaller Ioniq 7 that could arrive later.
While the concept (pictured below) removed the B-pillars, the later production model will add them back. Additionally, the sliding rear doors will give way to a conventional configuration. The most striking angle of the Concept Seven was its rear with a massive glass tailgate, but that seems to be disappearing as well. The cutout in the license plate camouflage indicates that the glass no longer extends all the way to the bottom.
What is his size? Well, the Kia EV9 stretches to 197.2 inches long. Hyundai didn’t reveal the Concept Seven’s overall length, but did say it has a massive 126-inch wheelbase. That’s four inches more than the EV9’s axle distance. This should result in an even more spacious cabin, especially for third-row occupants. Looking at the profile of the prototype, we notice that the roofline slopes gently towards the rear whereas on the Kia, it is rather flat. The arched silhouette at the rear could reduce headroom and cargo volume.
The Ioniq 5 XRT and Ioniq 9 are expected to launch later this year. Automotive News reports that U.S. sales of the three-row SUV won’t begin until mid-2025.
Hyundai’s electric assault is in full swing. After giving the Ioniq 5 a boost, the Korean brand is preparing to expand the range with a rugged-looking XRT finish. It has now been spotted in the US, where the larger Ioniq 9 is also undergoing final testing. The latter is a three-row SUV, which apparently will not be called Ioniq 7 as initially planned.
The Ioniq 5 won’t be Hyundai’s first model to get the XRT treatment, but the trim level will debut on an electric vehicle. Already available for Santa Cruz, Tucson, Santa Fe and Palisade, the XRT is essentially an appearance package. Don’t expect any real off-road upgrades, as these will mostly be black accents, new wheels, and maybe some fat tires too. We won’t hold our breath for a raised suspension or any other mechanical improvement for that matter.
The Ioniq 5 is expected to arrive for the 2025 model year alongside the already available high-performance N model. Logic tells us that the US-spec variant will inherit the updates we saw on the global model, which also spawned an all-show-no-extra-go N line. Hyundai tweaked the bumpers and grille, while adding a rear wiper and a few more buttons inside.
The Ioniq 9 will essentially be Hyundai’s equivalent of the Kia EV9, with room for six passengers. Speaking of how many people it can seat, the Concept Seven shown in November 2021 was a preview of the brand’s largest electric vehicle to date. The name change will make room for a smaller Ioniq 7 that could arrive later.
While the concept (pictured below) removed the B-pillars, the later production model will add them back. Additionally, the sliding rear doors will give way to a conventional configuration. The most striking angle of the Concept Seven was its rear with a massive glass tailgate, but that seems to be disappearing as well. The cutout in the license plate camouflage indicates that the glass no longer extends all the way to the bottom.
What is his size? Well, the Kia EV9 stretches to 197.2 inches long. Hyundai didn’t reveal the Concept Seven’s overall length, but did say it has a massive 126-inch wheelbase. That’s four inches more than the EV9’s axle distance. This should result in an even more spacious cabin, especially for third-row occupants. Looking at the profile of the prototype, we notice that the roofline slopes gently towards the rear whereas on the Kia, it is rather flat. The arched silhouette at the rear could reduce headroom and cargo volume.
The Ioniq 5 XRT and Ioniq 9 are expected to launch later this year. Automotive News reports that U.S. sales of the three-row SUV won’t begin until mid-2025.