Hyundai committed to environment through Project Ioniq

Hyundai's Ioniq hybrid may have been delayed reaching Australia, but that hasn't stopped the Korean brand announcing the fuel-sipping passenger car will lend its name to a new corporate strategy.

Project Ioniq is a new R&D programme that will look at ways of making environmental sustainability more easily achievable, as well as finding the means for the user to interface more conveniently with the vehicle through "innovative products and services".

Spearheading the strategy is the Ioniq car itself, which will be available with a choice of three alternative-energy drivetrains: hybrid, plug-in and full battery/electric.

At the core of Project Ioniq is a concept, 'freedom in mobility', supported by four pillars: freedom of access to mobility, freedom to connect while on the move, freedom from accidents or other inconveniences and freedom from environmental harm and depletion of energy resources.

“The future mobility lifestyles that we envisage is about staying connected to our daily lives all the time without being bound by the limitations of time and space,” said Euisun Chung, Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor.

“We are determined to make this a reality so that everyone can enjoy better, more fulfilling lives,” added Chung.

Future mobility in Hyundai's terms of reference will be contingent on the way society evolves, the way individuals make the transition to different lifestyles, and the way personal transport morphs from the car as we know it into something that could be vastly different.

“We will continue to make technological strides in various areas to bring freedom and convenience in mobility for our customers with ever-improved mobility,” said Woong-chul Yang, Vice Chairman and Head of Hyundai R&D Centre.

All three variants of Hyundai's Ioniq made their debut at this week's Geneva motor show. The company is claiming a world first for the Ioniq, on the basis that no other car offers hybrid, plug-in and battery/electric variants of the same basic model.

Both the Hybrid model and the Plug-in feature the same Kappa 1.6-litre GDI petrol engine – with direct injection – to keep the on-board battery pack charged. Producing 77kW and 147Nm, the four-cylinder powerplant is coupled to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission in both cases. An electric motor rated at 32kW and 170Nm draws power from a 1.56kW lithium-ion-polymer battery located below the rear seats. Total output is 103.6kW and 265Nm. Hyundai

claims the Ioniq can reach 185km/h flat out, but CO2 emissions in combined-cycle testing are as low as 79g/km.

The plug-in variant offers an electric-only range of 50km. A 45kW electric motor is connected to an 8.9kWh lithium-ion-polymer battery for combined-cycle CO2 emissions of just 32g/km. Without a petrol engine, the Ioniq Electric stores all its power in a 28kWh lithium-ion-polymer battery for a 250km range. The 88kW electric motor generates 295Nm to push the car up to 165km/h via a single reduction gear.

While the Ioniq Hybrid and Plug-in variants ride on a multi-link independent system at the rear, the Ioniq Electric features a torsion beam there, to save space occupied by the larger battery pack. Two-tone wheels available for the Hybrid measure 15- or 17-inch. Tyres specified for the three wheel sizes (15, 16 or 17-inch) available across the three variants are low-rolling-resistance tyres supplied by Michelin.

High-tech comfort and convenience features inside the Ioniq will include Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, TomTom live services, wireless recharging for smartphones and a seven-inch TFT display.

Safety items fitted are: Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist System, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Smart Cruise Control. Seven standard airbags include a kneebag for the driver.

Like Prius, Ioniq is very slippery through the air, with a drag coefficient of 0.24Cd. Bi-xenon headlights shine the way for the Hybrid variant at night, and colours available for the hybrid and the plug-in are: Iron Grey, Marina Blue, Phoenix Orange, Mist Meadow, Chalky Brown, Phantom Black, Polar White, Platinum Silver and Aurora Silver. The Ioniq is adorned inside and out with blue accents for the hybrid and plug-in, and copper elements throughout the interior of the Ioniq Electric.

LEDs are used for low-beam lighting in the case of the Ioniq Plug-in, which is available with silver accents when the colours Marina Blue or Phoenix Orange are specified. The Ioniq Electric is readily distinguished from the petrol-engined models by its smooth nose, without a radiator grille in place.

Weight-saving measures include aluminium bonnet and tailgate (for a reduction of 12.4kg over conventional steel pressings) and aluminium suspension components that are 4.6kg lighter at the front and 7.14kg lighter at the rear. Luggage capacity measures 750 litres for the Ioniq Hybrid, reducing to 650 litres for the Ioniq Plug-in and Ioniq Electric. Dual-zone climate control can be adjusted for energy-efficient operation to save battery charge.

Natural materials for the interior comprise natural plastic combined with powdered wood and volcanic stone for the interior door mouldings. Raw materials extracted from sugar cane and soy bean oil enhance durability and ambience in the car's cabin (headlining and carpet for sugar cane, decorative metallic-look trim from the soy bean oil).