The Hyundai IONIQ 5 has won Best Design at the TopGear Electric Awards 2021. The first car in the new IONIQ line-up brand, and the first Hyundai built on a new dedicated E-GMP battery electric vehicle platform, the IONIQ 5 doesn’t just herald a new era for EV design, but for EV performance and capability.
IONIQ 5 is fully electric and rich in eco-friendly materials, including those extracted from sugar cane, meaning it’s both desirable and sustainable. Able to charge from 10%-80% in just 18 minutes, accelerate from 0-62mph in as little as 5.2 seconds and travel up to 300 miles on a single charge, with IONIQ 5 there are no compromises.
Jack Rix, Editor of TopGear Magazine, said: “The IONIQ 5 looks like an Eighties hot hatch that’s been beamed into the future. It’s head-turningly bold and peppered with talking point details. Those wheelarch strakes. The robot dot-matrix tail-lights. The solar roof. And inside is just as futuristic, with twin 12.3-inch screens bookended with a magnetic panel you can pin receipts, notes or perhaps family photos on to. The fully flat floor means the interior can be morphed to your will; the centre console slides fully forward, while both front chairs have built-in footrests and recline almost bed-flat.”
IONIQ 5’s progressive design represents a departure from past norms, exploring a new design freedom offered by a dedicated BEV platform, evoking the daring attitude of Hyundai Pony, the company’s first production car. The front of the car is equipped with Hyundai’s first clamshell hood that minimizes panel gaps for optimal aerodynamics. The front bumper is defined by an eye-catching V-shape incorporating distinctive daytime running lights (DRLs) that provide an unmistakable light signature unique to IONIQ 5. On the sides, auto flush door handles provide clean surface styling and enhanced aerodynamic efficiency. The front and rear forms of the vehicle merge together at its doors.
Inside those doors is a new ‘Living Space’ cabin that takes advantage of IONIQ 5’s bespoke platform. Axles pushed right to the front and back of the car mean there’s a huge amount of space in the interior, while the flat floor and reclining chairs allow for levels of comfort and flexibility never before seen in this segment. Many of the interior touchpoints are eco-friendly too: the seats, headliner, door trim, floor and armrest use sustainably sourced materials, such as recycled PET bottles, plant-based (bio PET) yarns and natural wool yarns, eco-processed leather with plant-based extracts, and bio paint with plant extracts.
Following its unveiling on 23 February, the 3,000 units of the limited edition IONIQ 5 Project 45 were almost three times over-subscribed within 24 hours of reservations opening. IONIQ 5 will be available in the UK from mid-2021.
