Hyundai IONIQ 7 electric SUV due 2024, powered by SK Innovation Co batteries
A teaser image of the future of the IONIQ range. We’ve lightened the image to provide a better look. Image: Hyundai
We seem to be covering Hyundai’s IONIQ range non-stop these days (no bad thing). The IONIQ 5 is on-sale in Europe, Asia and New Zealand, and about to open for customer orders in Australia. Hyundai’s IONIQ 6 sedan has been delayed this week; pushed back to mid-2022 due to changes to the battery system and a redesign according to reports.
To round out the week, we have news from The Korean Economic Daily that SK Innovation Co. has been chosen to supply batteries to Hyundai for the 2024 IONIQ 7 full-size SUV. Based on the modular E-GMP platform, the IONIQ 7 is set to come in two and four wheel drive configurations, and from the official Hyundai images and the rendering below, melds interesting elements of traditional SUV design with a hint of futurism.
SK Innovation Co currently supplies battery systems for the IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6 models. Strong sales of the former have boosted SK Innovation Co’s profitability and battery supply, with 12,484 units sold in the Korean domestic market, and 18,966 sold abroad.
An IONIQ 7 rendering from TopElectricSUV.com
The IONIQ 6 will use batteries from Korean competitor LG Energy Solution Ltd; the battery maker has signed an memorandum of understanding with Hyundai and the Indonesian Government to partner in a new $1.1 billion USD battery plant in Indonesia. LG Energy Solution hopes to ramp production to an annual capacity of 10 GWh of cells by 2024, providing enough energy for 150,000 electric vehicle battery systems per year.
Hyundai is cleverly spreading its risk — both in terms of supply chains and development — by partnering with all the top battery makers in Korea. The IONIQ range is expected to miss out on solid-state battery technology according to industry insiders; an additional partnership exists between Samsung SDI Co and Hyundai to develop an all-solid-state battery, but that technology isn’t expected to reach commercial viability until 2027 at the earliest.
Hyundai’s IONIQ 7 is based on the modular E-GMP platform.
Kia EV7 full size electric SUV set to be Korean brand's flagship; due in 2024
Prototypes of Kia’s largest vehicle, currently dubbed the EV7, have been spotted testing across the world, and by all accounts, it is a large vehicle with a design language that is unique to the brand. We can expect a high-set full-length rear lightbar (similar to its EV6 sibling), but other clues hint at a more geometric and angular design.
A rendering of Kia’s EV7. Image: Motor1.com
Kia’s purpose-built electric vehicle range will officially launch with the eagerly anticipated EV6, set for northern hemisphere market introduction early in 2022. The automaker plans to grow EV sales over the coming decade to 880,000 units in 2030, positioning itself as a big player in the zero-emissions passenger vehicle market.
Kia’s EV7 spied testing. Image: Motor.es
Prototypes of Kia’s largest vehicle, currently dubbed the EV7, have been spotted testing across the world, and by all accounts, it is a large vehicle with a design language that is unique to the brand. Judging by the below spy photo, we can expect a high-set full-length rear lightbar (similar to its EV6 sibling), but other clues hint at a more geometric and angular design.
Motor1 has rendered what it believes the EV7 will look like, taking current styling cues such as the headlights from the EV6, and working off what body lines are visibly under the camouflage. The result is a rather Range Rover-like full-size SUV, certain to be popular with North American and South East Asian consumers.
A concept rendering of Hyundai’s EV range; from L to R, the IONIQ 6, IONIQ 7 and Project 45 (IONIQ 5). Image: Hyundai
For its part, Hyundai will also build a full-size EV7 equivalent, likely to be dubbed the IONIQ 7. Little is known about this vehicle at this stage, however, the Korean Times has reported the vehicle will likely go on sale in 2023, and will utilise battery backs from South Korean cell manufacturer SK Innovation.
Speaking at the IONIQ 5 launch, Hyundai America President and CEO José Muñoz confirmed the existence of the IONIQ 7, its three-row occupancy, and a market introduction of 2024 in North America. “We will follow the exciting Ioniq 5 compact CUV with the stunning Ioniq 6 mid-size sedan next year and the Ioniq 7 three-row mid-size SUV in 2024, and that is just the beginning. Hyundai will introduce 23 battery-electric vehicles worldwide by 2025.”
Source: Motor1.com
