PEEK INTO THE FUTURE IN ALL-ELECTRIC HYUNDAI IONIQ 6!

By NITISH S. RELE – motoringtampabay@gmail.com

It’s World Car of the Year, World Electric Vehicle of the Year and World Car Design of the Year! The World Car Awards is comprised of worldwide professional automotive journalists, so there is significant validity in the recognition bestowed upon the all-electric 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6. Need we say more?

Some months ago, Hyundai showcased the award winner to the automotive media in Savannah, Ga., whereabouts the Ioniq 6 along with other Hyundai and Genesis vehicles will be built. Covering nearly 3,000 acres, the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America will employ 8,100 people. With a price tag of $5.4 billion, the EV assembly plant will produce 300,000 vehicles a year and then top up at 500,000. Full production will be in early 2025. The most aerodynamic Hyundai ever looks to attract millennials, singles or couples, to transition from gas to electric. Suspension: MacPherson strut front, multilink rear

Steering: motor-driven power

Our single-speed direct transmission Ioniq 6 was equipped with the 77.4 kWh lithium polymer battery with all-wheel drive and dual motors (320 horsepower). On 20-inch wheels, this fine sedan has a reach of 270 miles but on 18-inch, it can go up to 316 miles. On a 240-volt, it will take about seven hours but a fast DC charge (350 kW) can load up 80 percent in just 18 minutes. And a leased Ioniq 6 does qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit. Another good news is that Hyundai offers a two-year complimentary charge at any Electrify America station.

Up front, jewel-like parametric-pixel LED headlights, wide bumper and active grille shutters convey a distinctive presence. As you near the vehicle, flush automatic door handles are a sight to behold! Two high-tech dual 12.3 screens, one for infotainment and the other a digital instrument cluster of speedometer, power gauge, charge level, digital and trip odometers, stand out. The column-mounted shifter is straightforward to operate. Eight-way power driver and six-way adjustable front-passenger heated/cooled seats, dual auto a/c, 60/40 rear seat, bridge-type center console, eight-speaker Bose sound system and a flat-bottomed leather tilt/telescopic steering column are offered at no extra cost.

Dual front and side airbags, side curtain airbag, electronic stability and traction controls, brake assist, rearview camera, blind spot, forward-collision and rear-cross traffic collision avoid assists; front avoid, lane keep and follow assists; front crumple zones, tire pressure monitoring system and daytime running lights are standard.

As gas prices still hover over $3 a gallon, the Ioniq 6 is a no-brainer. Its futuristic appearance and cutting-edge technology make the midsize sedan an enticing choice. And Hyundai’s five-year, 60,000-mile new vehicle, and 10-year, 100,000-mile electric battery warranties should convince you to sign on the dotted line.

IONIQ 6 (LIMITED, AWD)

Wheelbase: 116.1 inches

Length: 191.1 inches

Width: 74 inches

Height: 58.9 inches

MPGe: 111 city, 94 highway, 103 combined

Base price: $56,100

Price as tested: $57,425

Weight: 4,616 pounds

Web site: www.hyundaiusa.com