Hyundai’s i-oniq Concept was unveiled in Geneva today, a vehicle which combines a hybrid powertrain with a shooting brake body style.
The Korean company calls the i-oniq an electric sports hatchback with a range-extending petrol engine, and through this car they say they are exploring new possibilities not only as far as propulsion methods but also in terms of evolving their fluidic sculpture design language.
Designed and developed at Hyundai’s European R&D centre in Germany, the i-oniq measures 4.4 meters in length, and it combines gentle feature lines and muscular surface treatment in an aesthetic and functional body shape.
Thomas Burkle, Chief Designer at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical
Centre, commented, "Two arched curves are the key theme behind i-oniq,
creating a strong and playful contrast between sharp character lines and
soft but muscular features. The profile lines of the front fender run
from front to back, emphasising i-oniq’s coupe appearance, while
offering maximum visibility to occupants."
Other design elements which capture your attention when looking at the i-oniq are its ‘penthouse roof’ and LED headlights, while at the interior the concept impresses with its driver oriented layout and the floating instrument cluster which features multi-layered projection and a large background display for navigation and entertainment.
The Hyundai i-oniq is powered by a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine rated at 61 PS (45 kW) which has been linked to a 109 PS (80 kW) lithium-ion electric motor powered by a 55 kW generator via a single speed gearbox.
In electric mode the i-oniq can travel 120 Km (74 miles) and up to 700 K (435 miles) when the petrol engine provides assistance. CO2 levels can only reach 45 g/Km while the concept can hit a top speed of 145 Km/h.
