Ioniq 9 rumored to be the new name, according to reports.
According to reports, Hyundai plans to rebrand the Ioniq 7 in order to accurately represent its place within the company’s Ioniq series.
According to an insider who spoke to Automotive News, the new electric three-row SUV will be known as the Ioniq 9. While a representative from the car company did not verify this information, they did mention that additional information about the next Ioniq model will be revealed as the launch date approaches.
The highly anticipated release of the Ioniq 7 is slated for later this year. However, sources have revealed that it will not make its debut at the upcoming New York Auto Show.
The exact reasoning remains uncertain, however our assumption is that Hyundai intends to match the model’s nomenclature with its position within the fleet. Kia also has their own version, the EV9, which shares the same E-GMP platform. It is possible that Hyundai wants to avoid any misunderstandings and prevent customers from assuming that the Ioniq 7 is a lower-class car compared to the EV9. Furthermore, there is a potential for Hyundai to launch more electric vehicles between the Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 7, resulting in the need for further flexibility in the naming scheme.
Hyundai’s electric SUV will play a vital role in the company’s overall success. Despite not offering any incentives to attract buyers, Kia has managed to achieve significant sales with its three-row SUV. In February 2024, they sold an impressive 1,318 units of the EV9, surpassing the sales of both the EV6 and Rio.
Hyundai has successfully managed to keep the Ioniq 7 a secret, but we recently caught a sneak peek of the electric SUV during testing in Korea. In contrast to the EV9, Hyundai opted for a more conventional design, featuring taillights similar to those on the Escalade and a front fascia inspired by the Grandeur.
We anticipate the electric drivetrains to replicate those featured in the EV9, with the entry-level model delivering a robust output of 215 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. We remain hopeful for the launch of an Ioniq 7 N in the coming days. As per reports, Kia is gearing up to unveil a high-performance GT version of the EV9.
It is highly probable that Hyundai will produce the Ioniq 7 in South Korea, but there is a possibility that it will eventually be manufactured at Hyundai’s specialized electric vehicle plant in Georgia.
