Hyundai’s Next-Gen Model 3 EV Rival Will Be A Progressive Design

The wraps have just been stripped off the facelifted 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 EV, with totally redesigned front and rear elements that make the car look lower, more dramatic, and a little less awkward compared to the previous design. Regardless, sales of Hyundai’s main Model 3 sedan rival lag far behind the now-iconic Tesla, so do Hyundai’s plans to catch up require going more conventional for its next-gen Model 3 competitor’s styling? It’s not likely, according to Simon Loasby, head of Hyundai’s design center in South Korea.

Hyundai Doesn’t Want To Back Down On Design

The redesigned Hyundai Ioniq 6 splits the headlights into split DRL and headlight units, and gets rid of the second rear spoiler that was controversial. Overall, the new update is a cleaner overall design from every angle. “I’m so happy with this, just how much longer and lower the car looks,” Loasby told Australia’s Drive.

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It’s a significant styling update for only being on the market for 3 years.

Hyundai is not going to back down from its bold design swings anytime soon, not even when it comes to catching Tesla. So what will the next-gen electric sedan from Hyundai look like? “Not necessarily less polarizing, not necessarily more conventional, but definitely more progressive,” Loasby said. “We don’t want to polarize too much, but we want to be progressive. And that’s a difficult balance between the two.”

Next-Gen Blend To Take On Tesla’s Model 3 EV

It’s possible Hyundai will consider blending some of its gas-powered Sonata sedan’s styling with the very progressive look of the Ioniq 6 for the next-generation Model 3 fighter, likely due at the end of this decade. Loasby continues: “We do have parallel vehicles – we have a Sonata and we have this. And so we’re creating differentiation because there’s a different customer mindset.” At least for now.

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Loasby admits that at some point, the two customer groups’ interests will likely overlap or merge. We project that’s where it’s possible both the Sonata and Ioniq 6 could be replaced by a single model. There are no announced plans or teasers for a next-gen gas, hybrid, or electric Sonata just yet, which is slightly larger overall than the Ioniq 6 but sits in the same sedan size category.

Source: Drive