Key Takeaways
- Hyundai teases new electric SUV with 3 rows of seating, likely based on the Hyundai Seven Concept.
- Production version will have traditional seating, underpinned by the E-GMP platform and offer two powertrain options.
- Potentially named Ioniq 9, this SUV aims to rival the Kia EV9 with a more conservative design and tech-laden cabin.
Hyundai has announced that it will introduce an all-new electric SUV this year. Almost no information was provided, with the automaker only confirming that the new arrival will have three rows of seating and that the world premiere will take place “later in 2024.” Despite the vagueness of the announcement, it’s all but assured that the Korean automaker is referring to the production version of the Hyundai Seven Concept, revealed near the end of 2021. Much like the Kia Concept EV9, this futuristic electric SUV envisioned a cabin where occupants are perched on a curved bench or swiveling lounge chairs, but the production version of the Kia SUV suggests a much more toned-down approach. Remember, Hyundai’s new SUV must effectively replace the gas-powered Palisade.
What Can We Expect?
Instead of an open-plan cabin with unusual seating, the three-row SUV will seat seven or eight in the traditional fashion. They will be packaged in a car that is underpinned by Hyundai’s modular E-GMP platform, which also forms the basis of the Ioniq 5 hatchback and its Kia EV6 sibling, as well as the Kia EV9 SUV (and the smaller Kia EV3). In the EV9, two powertrain options are on offer, with the standard one comprising a 76.1 kWh battery and a 215-horsepower rear motor.
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Alternatively, a 99.8 kWh battery can be had for up to 300 miles of range, or you can step up to a dual-motor variant with 379 hp and AWD. There’s also a high-performance EV9 GT coming next year, so we wouldn’t be surprised if Hyundai’s seven-seater is later offered in Ioniq 7 N form. Or would that be Ioniq 9 N form?
Hyundai Doesn’t Know What To Call Its EV9 Alternative
As we touched on earlier, the concept of Korea’s new electric SUV was called the Seven, so it makes sense for the production version to get similar nomenclature so that buyers make the association, especially since when the Ioniq sub-brand was launched, a three-row SUV called the 7 was said to be in the works. However, with the Kia EV9 using a higher number, Hyundai may be worried that consumers may think the Ioniq SUV is a lesser vehicle than its nearly identical Kia cousin.
According to insider sources, the Ioniq 7 may be renamed Ioniq 9, and if true, this would open up more opportunities for niche-filling in the future. With little to go on for now, we can only wait for more information from Hyundai, but spy shots suggest a more conservative design than the EV9 on the outside and a tech-laden experience in the cabin. Keep your fingers crossed for a debut at the LA Auto Show (November 22-December 1).
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