As South Korea’s largest automaker and a major player in the global industry, the automotive world can’t help but sit up and take notice whenever Hyundai announces a major new development.
The Ioniq 5 is significant as a design showcase, but also as a launch vehicle for the company’s dedicated EV platform E-GMP and a sign of things to come as a company. seeks to dramatically enhance its EV deployment over a decade.
The Ioniq 5 is Hyundai’s first vehicle designed from the ground up to be an electric vehicle, a crossover that pictured here can resemble a massive hatch, serving as the locomotive for the vast Hyundai group. and is a showcase for technology.
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Featured design element: Parametric pixels
In keeping with its positioning as one of the brand’s most important phone models heralding a new era of electrification, the Ioniq 5 employs a ‘Parametric Pixel’ design philosophy.
A pixel is a square or rectangle that serves as the smallest element of a digital image or unit of illumination on a digital screen. Ioniq 5 makes the most of this definition to cleverly reference the past while also looking to the future.
This is most evident in the design of the headlights and taillights.
The most noticeable feature on the tail end of the Ioniq 5 is the full-width horizontal stripe consisting of smaller squares, with some of these glowing almost as individual LEDs to create graphics. indicator lights and tail lights.
Hyundai claims that the look ‘shows Hyundai’s intention to fundamentally reinvent electric mobility with an EV-specific design that will carry over to future Ioniq models’ and the use of LED lights. this square is perhaps a direct pop-culture reference to our digital history, evoking the earlier computer age where the pixel art in video games like Pac-Man was standard.
These pixelated graphics are further accentuated by horizontal bands on the lower rear bumper to provide additional lighting, while also giving a futuristic, sci-fi flavor to the overall design.
The pixelated graphics are mimicked at the front of the vehicle with the headlights using a bold, square graphic that not only repeats the pixel-art motif from the rear of the vehicle, but is said to bear a lot of resemblance to the DeLorean DMC-12 from the brand. Back to the Future movie studio.
Several elements throughout the exterior styling complement the Parametric Pixel design theme. First of all the strong trapezoid and other rigid geometric shapes and folds are used on the side panels.
This includes a horizontal character line that flows above the door handles, through the doors and the C-pillar to link to the taillights. Lowered, the sill continues with parallel horizontal braces found on the rear bumper.
These character lines and side strips are connected by a diagonal twist to create a clean, yet futuristic ‘Z’ graphic that is more evocative of sci-fi themes.
The back-to-back references to ’70s and ’80s pixel art and science fiction are perhaps also a subtle nod to Hyundai’s own legacy as an automaker, with its brand statement The Ioniq 5 features a side panel that evokes the ‘bold attitude of the Hyundai Pony, the brand’s first production vehicle. ‘
The futuristic look created by the sharp corners and diagonal creases of the side panels is further emphasized by the application of reflective triangles at both the front and rear of the vehicle.
In both cases, the neatly beveled triangular edges frame the horizontal light clusters and add a sense of spaciousness and muscle to the car’s exterior design.
Ratio
The Ioniq 5’s shape and proportions are among the most surprising aspects of the overall exterior design.
Without any contextual references and judging only by the photos, it would be easy to mistake the Ioniq 5 for a small hatch that competes with models like the VW Golf, Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3 and the like. Hyundai’s i30 buddy.
In fact, the length of the Ioniq 5 is 4635mm longer. Indeed, Hyundai claims that the wheel placement at each corner and the Ioniq 5’s E-GMP platform have provided it with a super-long 3000mm wheelbase to create “D-segment spaciousness in the bodywork.” CUV” (ie the spaciousness of a midsize sedan, such as the Hyundai Sonata).
The key to allowing Hyundai to visually conceal the Ioniq 5’s true size is the use of a classic three-post conservatory with a strongly inclined C-pillar. This is the basic shape of a hatchback shared by the small hatches described above, which Hyundai simply increased in size into a larger SUV.
In contrast, a conventional SUV shape uses D-pillars, to create a four-post greenhouse with much larger and more distinct rear quad lights.
inland
Despite the hot, upcoming Ioniq 5 N, the Ioniq 5 in its current form offers quick acceleration, but doesn’t make any sense about being an exceptional sports car to drive.
The interior reflects this point of view, with Hyundai calling it a ‘Smart Living Space’ that specializes in providing an open, airy feel with a focus on comfort and spaciousness, and without any pretentious concepts. any notion that it is oriented to the driver at the expense of other passengers.
The dashboard is perhaps the first element of the interior that delivers on this design intent. It uses horizontal architecture, highlighted by dual 12.3-inch landscape-oriented infotainment screens and digital instrument cluster in a single housing, which work to visually enhance the feel. spacious in the interior.
In line with the ‘Smart Living Space’ summary, there is a space to the right of the instrument cluster for the driver to attach notes or other documents, so they can remember key dates or other information. other important news.
Well-being is an essential part of comfort, and Hyundai has also worked hard to design unique seats for the Ioniq 5. The brand claims that the front seats can be reclined to the ‘optimum angle’ to create a sense of space. weight to increase relaxation, in situations like waiting for the car to charge.
The rear seats can also slide forward and back up to 135mm, helping passengers to be more comfortable.
The dedicated EV platform offers the ability to completely flat floors, without the need for transmission tunnels and other powertrain components running through the middle of the vehicle, and Hyundai has capitalized on this fact to its advantage with a innovation it calls Universal Island.
This is actually a sliding center console that can move forward and backward 140mm. When moved to the rear, it allows front passengers to easily slide to the opposite door (which can be useful in tight parking spaces), while also allowing rear passengers better access to amenities. such as cup holders, wireless charging and USB ports.
Other convenient design features
On the outside, the Ioniq 5 continues the current trend of the electric vehicle industry with flat door handles for a cleaner look, combined with a clamshell-shaped bonnet (a first for the Hyundai brand). , which also optimizes aerodynamics and reduces drag, helping to increase range.
On the inside, perhaps smaller, the innovation is the design of the glovebox. Instead of flipping open like most other cars, Hyundai has designed a large glove box, which can slide out and open to the outside like a drawer, for better practicality.
Like other vehicles on the E-GMP platform, the Ioniq 5 is also capable of vehicle load (V2L), allowing owners to power devices and devices such as laptops, blenders and generators. coffee and toaster through the car’s battery.
For more information about V2L, please see the article link.
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