[Car Talk Forest] Dedicated Platform 'E-GMP' First Electric Vehicle... Clearly Saying "I'm a Future Car"

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Launching Next Year
Looks Just Like Concept Car 45

Diamond-Like Sculptural Beauty
Interior Spacious and Flat Like a Living Room

Rendering image of the Ioniq brand product lineup. From the left, Ioniq 6, Ioniq 7, Ioniq 5 (Photo by Hyundai Motor Company)

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] With the unveiling of Hyundai and Kia Motors' dedicated electric vehicle platform 'E-GMP,' public attention is focused on the Ioniq 5, the first electric vehicle to apply this platform. This is because the design and specifications of the Ioniq 5, set to be released next year, can be predicted through the disclosed specifications of the next-generation electric vehicle's backbone, E-GMP.

First, looking at the previously released rendering images, the exterior design appears to be almost identical to the 'Concept Car 45.' The Concept Car 45 is said to be inspired by Hyundai's beginning, the Pony Coupe concept car. It is a car with a silhouette emphasizing straight lines, giving an overall impression of a diamond shape. The lamps feature 'Parametric Pixels' composed of geometric pixel shapes, expressing the unique identity of the Ioniq brand while adding a futuristic feel.

With the introduction of the dedicated electric vehicle platform, the utilization of interior space has greatly increased. The Ioniq 5 is planned to be released as a compact crossover utility vehicle (CUV) between the Tucson and Santa Fe. By applying the new platform, the overhang (distance from the vehicle end to the wheel center) has been reduced, and the wheelbase (distance between axles) has been extended to secure a spacious interior. By eliminating the space previously occupied by the engine and transmission, the wheelbase, which determines the interior space, has been extended to 3000mm. This is even longer than the wheelbase of the large sport utility vehicle (SUV) Palisade (2900mm).

Hyundai's electric concept car 45, showcasing the design concept direction of the Ioniq 5 (Photo by Hyundai)

Additionally, by placing the battery pack under the vehicle floor, the interior floor is made flat without any protruding parts, and a warm and cozy feeling is achieved by appropriately combining wood, fabric, and leather materials. Earlier, Lee Sang-yeop, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai Motor's Design Center, revealed a design concept to make the interior of future electric vehicles like a living room, serving as another living space.

The battery and power performance have also been significantly improved compared to existing electric vehicles. The battery installed can travel 500km on a single charge and 100km with a 5-minute charge, and the charging system actively utilizes 800V high-voltage charging, making it possible to charge more than 80% within 18 minutes.

Advanced driver assistance systems may also apply autonomous driving technology at Level 2.5, similar to the Genesis GV80 and G80, or even Level 3 or higher. Currently, the autonomous driving technology applied to Genesis includes navigation-based and driving style-linked smart cruise control, automatic lane change assist, and multi-collision prevention automatic braking system.

Although the Ioniq 5 embodies Hyundai and Kia Motors' cutting-edge technology, the most important factor is the price. Industry insiders expect the Ioniq 5's launch price to be around the low 50 million KRW range. Considering electric vehicle subsidies, the actual purchase price could be in the mid-to-high 30 million KRW range. It is expected that the vehicle will be available in the domestic market as early as March next year, or at least by April.