The Hyundai Ioniq 9 Should Look Like That Wild Concept

Hyundai shares the first teaser images of its upcoming flagship electric SUV. Its name has been changed from Ioniq 7 to Ioniq 9 possibly hinting that a smaller model is in the works. The Hyundai Ioniq 9 will be revealed in November after more teaser images are released.

Hyundai has changed the name of its upcoming flagship electric SUV from Ioniq 7 to Ioniq 9. This was revealed along with the first teaser images previewing the new model. They show a vehicle whose side profile is very similar to the 2021 Hyundai Seven concept, but it loses the study’s rear-hinged rear doors and most likely its massive glass tailgate too.

Hyundai Seven EV Concept
The production Ioniq 9 will have conventional B- and C-pillars, so it seems unlikely to retain the concept’s frameless side windows. It will have a swept-back aerodynamic design, which Hyundai calls the “Aerosthetic Silhouette,” combining “unique aerodynamic performance and an aesthetic appeal. Its form is inspired by a boat, which is characterized by their sleek exteriors and spacious, cozy interiors.”

The production model’s flanks aren’t as wide or muscular as the concept’s. This is especially visible around the rear wheel well, where the side of the vehicle is much flatter. The transition from the study to the production model will mirror Kia's transformation of the Concept EV9 into the current EV9 SUV, which also featured protruding flanks as a concept and significantly flattened sides in the production model.

Under the Ioniq 9’s body sits a stretched version of the E-GMP platform, which Hyundai says gives the vehicle the longest wheelbase in its class. The manufacturer says it’s long enough to offer ample room for all three rows of seats and promises this model is “redefining what it means for an EV to be spacious and comfortable.”

One of the new teaser shots showed part of the front light cluster, which will feature the pixel design that Hyundai uses for all its EVs. Just like the concept, it will have a full-width light bar in the front and probably one in the rear too. The side profile teaser shot reveals that while the front lighting design will stay true to the concept, for the rear, lights will also be vertically placed on the back of the D-pillars instead of just in a horizontal bar like on the concept.

We don’t know what batteries Hyundai intends to put in the Ioniq 9, but the similar-size Kia EV9 built on the same platform comes with 76.1 kilowatt-hours or 99.8 kWh. The longest-range EV9 variant, with the big battery and a single motor driving the rear wheels, can travel up to 304 miles, according to the EPA. We expect the Ioniq 9 to also offer around 300 miles before it needs a recharge.

The Hyundai Seven concept had a 126-inch wheelbase, which is longer than the EV9’s 122-inch wheelbase. If the size difference remains for production, Hyundai could equip the Ioniq 9 with a larger battery pack than in the EV9, offering more range—maybe up to 350 miles EPA—but this is just speculation at the moment.

Hyundai may be developing a new model, likely a crossover, with the goal of positioning it between the Ioniq 5 and the Ioniq 9. The manufacturer hasn’t mentioned such a model yet, but the decision may have been taken after the Concept Seven was unveiled in 2021.

Hyundai intends to reveal the Ioniq 9 in November at the 2024 Los Angeles Auto Show and more sets of teasers will precede the unveiling.