Hyundai teases its Prius basher

Hyundai has teased a single picture of the car it hopes will one day outsell the Toyota Prius.

Called the IONIQ, the new hatchback will be a world-first, claims Hyundai, since it will be available with pure-electric, plug-in hybrid and petrol-electric powertrains.

Whichever model you choose, Hyundai says its three-in-one rival for the Prius -- which is a petrol-electric hybrid, although a plug-in hybrid version is available overseas -- will combine class-leading fuel-efficiency with a “fun, responsive drive and attractive design” -- something that, the Korean manufacturer says, “is a unique mix not yet achieved by a hybrid model”.

The name, says Hyundai, is a fusion of an electrically charged atom (ion) and the word ‘unique’.

Built on an all-new platform that will also underpin the new Kia Niro, the IONIQ will be revealed in Korea in January 2016, before making its public debut at the Geneva motor show in March.

Until then, not much is known about the IONIQ other than the pure-electric version will come powered by a high-capacity lithium-ion battery.

The plug-in hybrid IONIQ, meanwhile, is expected to have a small-capacity petrol engine that acts as a generator to charge the battery.

Finally, the more conventional hybrid is expected to come powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine producing around 100kW. It’s not known whether, to save costs and compete on price with the Prius, the IONIQ hybrid will use old-tech nickel-metal hydride cells or harness better, more powerful lithium-ion cells.