2023 Hyundai Ioniq 7: Electric SUV previewed as concept

The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 7 has been revealed in concept form, simply named the Seven.

Hyundai revealed the Seven at the AutoMobility motor show in Los Angeles, previewing the brand’s future three-row electric SUV.

Just as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 are closely-related models under the skin, the Seven is believed to be a twin to the Kia EV9 – also unveiled in concept form at the auto show – underpinned by Hyundai Motor’s E-GMP battery-electric architecture.

As with the Kia, Hyundai says the Seven can offer more than 480 kilometres of driving on a single charge – suggesting the concept may be using the 77.4kWh battery pack found in the lighter and more aerodynamic Kia EV6, which can achieve 528km on the WLTP test cycle.

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The Seven’s ultra-fast charging capabilities mean the electric SUV can be recharged from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 20 minutes using a 350kW charger.

Outside, the Hyundai concept has adopted a similar look to the Staria people-mover, with a single strip of LED daytime-running lights and dot-matrix LED headlights, following the futuristic lighting found on the Ioniq 5.

A continuous bar of LED tail-lights is replicated at the back-end, with additional lights bordering the rear glass tailgate.

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The large alloy wheels feature active aerodynamics, with flaps which can deploy or retract to prioritise brake cooling or reduce vehicle drag.

In concept form, the pillarless design and rear-hinged back doors allow the Seven to open up the cabin and reveal its lounge-room atmosphere. The first two rows have a single rotating captain’s chair, while the rear of the pod has an L-shaped chaise sofa.

But while the concept incorporates an unconventional lounge-style seating arrangement, its 3200mm-long wheelbase would allow the Ioniq 7 to accommodate three rows of seating when it reaches production.

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A built-in mini fridge and a shoe compartment have also been added, with the latter designed to “refresh passengers’ footwear”. Above, a panoramic glass roof can “display content based on passengers’ tastes,” suggesting it has some kind of digital projection capability.

Expect the overall shape of the concept to continue into the production version, which may arrive earlier than originally suggested.

While earlier reports had the Hyundai Ioniq 7 arriving in 2024, a story from newspaper The Korea Times today has the model launching in 2023 – which means we could see a road-going version unveiled as early as next year.