New Hyundai Ioniq 3 previewed as it edges closer to challenging the Ford Puma
Hyundai will preview its upcoming electric crossover with the radical new Concept THREE at the Munich Motor Show
The new Hyundai Ioniq 3 is set to arrive next year to take on the Renault 4 and Ford Puma Gen-E. But before it does, the brand will offer a sneak peek in the form of a striking new concept that will be revealed at next week’s Munich Motor Show.
It’s called the Concept THREE, which all but confirms the production version will be called the Ioniq 3. This makes sense anyway because it’ll be closely related to the Kia EV3 – which is available now through our Buy A Car service from just over £33,000 – giving us an indication of how much Hyundai’s sister model will cost.
Hyundai is hoping to redefine the compact EV segment with the new Ioniq 3, with the head of the brand's global design centre, Simon Loasby, claiming that “designing the Concept THREE was an opportunity for us to rethink the compact EV from the ground up”.
What will the new Hyundai Ioniq 3 look like?
Rather than a boxy or square-jawed small SUV like the Renault 4, the Concept THREE is described as an ‘Aero Hatch’ and has a much sleeker shape. Part of that is a sloped, coupé-inspired roofline that should help boost range and efficiency, but hopefully without sacrificing space inside.
We know from other teaser images that the Concept THREE will feature a rather sharp nose with super-slim headlights, similar to the facelifted Ioniq 6 saloon. The grille appears to be covered in hundreds of pixel-LED lights, which have been a signature styling element of the brand’s electric cars since the Ioniq 5 was launched in 2021. The Concept THREE will also have pronounced wheelarches, a large ducktail spoiler and an aggressive rear diffuser.
The Concept THREE has been shaped by Hyundai’s new 'Art of Steel' design language that so far has only been used for last year's Initium concept and the new, hydrogen-powered Nexo. The brand says it’s “inspired by the way steel bends and flows, the body features sculpted surfaces, clean intersections and distinctive character lines that emphasize both motion and precision”.
Hyundai’s concept cars are often very close to the eventual production version. This was the case with the Hyundai 45 that became the Ioniq 5, and very few changes were made when turning the Hyundai Concept SEVEN into the road-going Ioniq 9. We expect this to be true for the Concept THREE and Ioniq 3 too.
How much range will the Hyundai Ioniq 3 offer?
The Hyundai Ioniq 3 will bridge the gap in the brand’s EV line-up between the new Inster city car and the award-winning Kona Electric small SUV. But unlike either of those models, it will be based on the EV-dedicated E-GMP platform that’s used by several models, including the Kia EV3.
We expect the Ioniq 3 will be offered with the same powertrains as the EV3. That means a choice of 58.3kWh and 81.4kWh batteries, the larger of which should deliver close to 400 miles of range. Every model will have an electric motor driving the front wheels, while a maximum charging speed of up to 135kW should allow for a 10-80 per cent top-up in around half an hour.
One thing that will separate the Ioniq 3 from its larger siblings – the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 9 – is it will use a less-advanced 400-volt electrical architecture, hence the more average charging abilities. The others feature an 800-volt system, like a Porsche Taycan, which allows for ultra-rapid charging and a 10-80 per cent top-up in less than 20 minutes with the Ioniq 5.
What will it be like inside the new Hyundai Ioniq 3?
While the exterior styling differs rather dramatically from one Ioniq to the next, the interior of the Ioniq 3 should be very familiar. That means a twin-screen layout and a separate panel for the climate controls beneath. Reportedly the Ioniq 3 will also feature Apple CarPlay Ultra, which takes over both the infotainment screen and driver’s display to create a more cohesive user interface that uses Apple’s graphics.
The Kia EV3 is 4.3 metres long, and if the Ioniq 3 is exactly the same size it should offer space for four people to sit comfortably, or five for shorter journeys. Using a bespoke electric-car platform would also provide space for a completely flat floor and walk-through cabin, making the Ioniq 3 feel more spacious than many of its rivals. Clever features, such as the Ioniq 9’s sliding centre console, may also be included.
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