drive
Hyundai Ioniq, a hybrid with high hopes
The Hyundai Ioniq is capable of supporting three different types of environmentally friendlier drivetrains. – AFP Relaxnews pic, January 7, 2016.After months of teasing, the Hyundai Ioniq, the world's first car capable of supporting three different types of environmentally friendlier drivetrains, is finally official. And it may just live up to the hype.
A confidently shaped coupé-esque sedan, the car can seat a family in comfort and propel them forward via hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or full, plug-in electric power.
However, because Hyundai has used an intelligent combination of high-strength steel and lightweight aluminium in the car's construction and positioned the high-density batteries under the cabin floor, forward of its trunk, the Ioniq has a low centre of gravity and a balanced weight distribution – crucial elements if a car is going to be fun to drive.
But that's just the start. Hyundai has opted for a multi-link suspension set-up at the rear to keep the car's tail from wagging and when the first model in the three-model range – the conventional hybrid – goes on sale it will do so with a dual-clutch, paddle shift transmission as standard.
That sort of gearbox technology was until recently the preserve of expensive Audis or thrillingly fast Ferraris.
More impressive still is that Hyundai's was developed in-house specifically to get the very best in terms of responsiveness, smoothness and efficiency out of the car's powertrain setup.
Rag Jung, head of project management division at Hyundai Motor R&D centre said, "Ioniq embodies Hyundai Motor's new thinking and bold ambitions for the future. This world-class dedicated hybrid will be the starting point of our future mobility."
When the Ioniq's new 1.6-litre direct injection engine and permanent magnetic electric motor are spinning in harmony, the car outputs 152PS.
That, combined with the immediate torque of electric propulsion, the car's lightweight construction and what Hyundai claims is "class-leading" aerodynamic performance should be enough for the Ioniq to be entertaining as well as environmentally friendly.
However, exactly how friendly is still not clear. Although officially unveiled in Korea on Thursday, Hyundai is yet to announce the car's official emissions or fuel economy figures. All it has said so far is that they will be "class-leading". – AFP Relaxnews, January 7, 2016.
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