Hyundai Teases its Upcoming Green Car and its Unique Powertrain Options

Hyundai Ioniq (Credit: © Hyundai)

We’ve seen more than our fair share of spy shots of the upcoming Hyundai hybrid, which is rumored to be an all-out Prius fighter. Today, the Korean automaker finally confirmed that this vehicle will exist, but it will be far more than just a Prius-battling hybrid.

This new green car, known as the Ioniq, will be completely different than others available today, as it will be the only one that will come as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or electric vehicle. That’s right, this one body, which Hyundai teased in the above image, will have three electrified powertrains to choose from, giving green buyers all the options they could possibly want. This aligns with some of the spy shots I’ve seen, as some of the prototypes lacked any visible exhaust tips, leading me to believe there was a full-electric model in the works.

Hyundai also claims that this new hybrid will set itself apart by being “entertaining” to drive. While that sounds all well and good, keep in mind that nearly every manufacturer claims its green cars are fun to drive, while very few actually are. I am willing to bet that this Hyundai is no more fun than a Prius to drive, but that is totally cool, as this is exactly what I would expect from this sort of car.

For now, the only info we have on this new green rig are the details above, as Hyundai is keeping everything else under lock and key. Fortunately, the Ioniq’s debut takes place in Korea in January 2016, and it will show its face in Geneva and New York in March 2016, so we should learn more about it very soon.

We’ll bring you more details as they become available, so keep it locked here for all the latest.