This Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid just set a land speed record in Utah

By Stephen Edelstein Updated November 2, 2016

When most carmakers unveil a new hybrid, they emphasize its fuel efficiency. But Hyundai decided to take a slightly different approach with its Ioniq Hybrid.

The Korean automaker sent a race-prepped version of its new Toyota Prius competitor to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah to set a land speed record. Sure enough, the little hatchback achieved an FIA-certified speed record for production-based hybrid vehicles, at 157.825 mph. Hyundai says the car even hit 160.7 mph briefly. The record-holding Ioniq Hybrid was displayed at the SEMA show in Las Vegas.

Built by a team from Hyundai Motor America’s engineering and quality group, the land speed record car got a few key modifications. It used the stock Ioniq Hybrid powertrain, which includes a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed dual-clutch transmission, with an electric motor sandwiched in between. Engineers added less-restrictive intake and exhaust systems, new software, and a nitrous-oxide system to boost power. Power-sapping air conditioning and accessories were also removed.

Read more: Toyota unveils 2,000-hp Land Speed Cruiser at SEMA

To improve aerodynamics, engineers used the front fascia from the Ioniq Electric model, which doesn’t have a drag-producing grille opening. They also made some tweaks to the underbody of the car, and added smooth wheel covers. Custom suspension lowered the ride height by 100 millimeters.

Like most racing vehicles, the interior was gutted to save weight and make room for safety equipment. In the Ioniq Hybrid land speed record car, that includes a roll cage, racing seat with six-point harness, a fire-suppression system, and battery disconnect. A parachute mounted to the rear hatch helps slow the car from 150-plus mph.

The Ioniq Hybrid is one of three Ioniq variants Hyundai will launch over the next three months. The carmaker says both it and the all-electric Ioniq Electric model will go on sale before the end of the year, and a plug-in hybrid version will follow next year. Hyundai is the first to offer these three types of powertrains in one model.

Topics

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Move aside, Tesla. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is the best electric sedan for the masses

The front view of a red Hyundai Ioniq 6.

EVs of all shapes and sizes are finally coming, but not in equal measure. While we now have a solid array of midsize crossovers (like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6), sedans and SUVs aren't quite there yet. Sure, we have expensive sedans and SUVs, like the Rivian R1S and the Lucid Air, but if you're looking for a car for your small family and don't want, or can't afford, to spend a ton of cash, your options are limited.

But that's changing -- and there's a new car that, at least right now, makes a serious case for itself. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is the best electric sedan for the masses, and it goes right up against the likes of the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2. With a base price of $41,600, the Ioniq 6 is right in the same league as the $40,240 Model 3 and $48,400 Polestar 2.
What else is even out there?
When it comes to lower-priced electric sedans, before now, there were really only two options: the Tesla Model 3 and the Polestar 2. Other sedans exist, but they're not accessible by the majority of drivers. I recently reviewed the Lucid Air Grand Touring and loved it -- but I'm not spending $138,000 on a car unless I win the lottery.

Cars

I’m glad the Hyundai Ioniq 6 isn’t just a smaller Ioniq 5

Rear three quarter view of the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6.

Finally, we're at a point where carmakers other than Tesla are moving on from their first generation of electric cars, and releasing their second and even third models. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 and its sister the Kia EV6 both made headlines for being stellar alternatives to the Tesla Model 3 or Model Y, thanks to their innovative designs and high-tech features. But with more models finally coming out, carmakers have a choice: Should they just build smaller and larger versions of the EVs they already have? Or, should they try to keep pushing the design envelope with each new model?

Hyundai has decidedly taken the latter approach. The Ioniq 5 didn't necessarily reinvent the wheel, but it certainly offered a fresh take on the midsize crossover, with retro-looking pixel lights, a scaled-back interior, and more. But with the Ioniq 6, the company has gone back to the drawing board. There are similarities, to be sure -- but the Ioniq 6 is far from just a smaller version of the Ioniq 5.
The design of the Ioniq 6
There are plenty of similarities between the design of the Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 5, but at first glance, they look totally different. The Ioniq 6 is much sleeker, and frankly, Porsche 911-inspired. Its sleek curved lines culminate in a bar-light spoiler along the back of the car, and its slanted headlight cutouts give it a classic look. Only small details, like the pixel light accents sprinkled throughout the car, hint at its shared heritage with the Ioniq 5.

Cars

Hyundai Ioniq 6 first drive review: welcome to the future

Front three quarter view of the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6.

While some automakers are just beginning to get into electric cars, Hyundai's EVs have already taken several evolutionary steps. From the Ioniq Electric to the Kona Electric to the Ioniq 5, the South Korean brand's EVs have steadily become more sophisticated in tech and design. And Hyundai isn't stopping.

The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 is a follow-up to the Ioniq 5, wrapping the earlier model's hardware in very different styling. With the Ioniq 5 and most other EVs from mainstream brands are marketed as crossover SUVs, this sedan doesn't have much direct competition. Hyundai set out to compete with the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2, which is reflected in its comparable pricing — between $42,715 for the base version and $57,425 for the most expensive model. But constantly fluctuating Tesla prices and build configurations mean that may not be the case for long.