As part of a much broader electrification plan, Hyundai confirmed this week that the three-row SUV previously expected to be called the Ioniq 7 (in reference to the grandiose Seven Concept that preceded it) will be called the Ioniq 9. This is likely an effort to avoid customers mistakenly thinking the Hyundai electric SUV is less special than the Kia EV9 with which it will share its underpinnings. The Ioniq 9 has also been confirmed for production in Georgia, which should enable some tax credits.
Along with these new confirmations, CarBuzz spy shots captured in Colorado show what prototypes look like in greater detail than before, with a close-up of both the heavily camouflaged interior and its cabin. TV buffs will note that the occupant of the test vehicle was watching an episode of Sons of Anarchy when these shots were captured.
Exterior Design Will Stay True To The Concept
Thanks to the proximity from which these photographs were taken, we can see some clues to the styling. Like the Seven concept, the tops of the wheel arches will be squared, but unlike the concept, the area surrounding the actual wheel follows the same round shape traditionally seen on cars, likely because of aerodynamic benefits. While the doors are heavily layered in fabric, the bodywork appears to taper outward slightly toward the rear, and the gently sloping roofline indicates a nearly upright rear hatch. That being said, we’re not sure it’s as perpendicular to the roof in production guise as the concept.
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The concept’s oversized front windshield won’t be carried to production, but a large glass sunroof is still apparent. Peeking through the camouflage, it looks like the pixelated LEDs seen on the concept (and the Hyundai Ioniq 5) will provide a large full-width illumination strip to the top of the front fascia while upright lighting elements at each lower extremity will increase visual width and height. It’s unclear if the radical wraparound taillight system of the concept will follow, but we can see that there will be at least one vertical taillight on either side.
The Interior Looks Decent
A floating center console houses at least one cupholder and, presumably, things like the e-brake, but ahead of that, we’re pleased to see that the dashboard features several individual physical buttons and knobs for climate control and infotainment operations. Additionally, the duo-tone steering wheel with its painted inserts looks modern and funky, and although the leather is showing some wear near one of the joins on the rim, the stitching looks excellent. More importantly, several physical stalks and buttons handle all the frequently used functions.
A bright silver metallic mesh and various aluminum accents further uplift the ambiance. Finally, the dual-screen display appears to be crisp and clear, and although the graphics on the driver cluster seem somewhat simple, the car is probably not fully switched on. We’ll have to wait for the reveal to know more, and according to the grapevine, that will take place at the LA Auto Show in November.
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