HYUNDAI Motor Firm Australia (HMCA) has confirmed {that a} mid-life improve to the Ioniq 6 fully-electric sedan will come to Australia regardless of comparatively sluggish gross sales of the Tesla Mannequin 3 rival that launched in 2022.
Revealed in Seoul this morning, the facelift ushers in revised styling, minor inside updates, and the addition of a sportier N Line variant to the Ioniq 6 vary—which itself will sit beneath the now-confirmed, high-performance Ioniq 6 N.
The four-door sedan—dubbed “electrified streamliner” by its maker—will launch in up to date kind in Australia within the second half of this yr, whereas the full-fat Ioniq 6 N will comply with about six months later in early 2026, bringing 478kW Ioniq 5 N {hardware} to a sedan physique type for the primary time.
A extra assertive N Line trim degree enters the worldwide Ioniq 6 vary with this replace however HMCA has not but confirmed whether or not the mid-tier grade shall be included within the native line-up.
The Ioniq 6 N Line will get pleasure from solely a short stint as probably the most performance-orientated variant within the vary with the fast Ioniq 6 N set to be totally revealed in the course of 2025.
Till now, the Ioniq 6 N had solely been closely implied by demonstrations of the corporate’s RN22e ‘rolling lab’ prototype which previewed using dual-motor, high-output EV mechanicals, synthetic gear shifts and engine noise technology earlier than even the Ioniq 5 N was revealed.
The facelifted Ioniq 6 introduces a spread of exterior adjustments targeted on additional optimising aerodynamic effectivity whereas bringing the sedan in keeping with Hyundai’s evolving design language.
Key alterations embody a revised headlight therapy that includes slim, break up items with a skinny higher daytime working mild (DRL) and a compact decrease primary beam meeting. A flatter bonnet and simplified apron create a extra horizontal front-end stance whereas the rear finish positive aspects a extra pronounced ducktail spoiler changing the compromised two-piece ingredient seen on the unique design.
Inside, the adjustments are significantly extra minor. Supplies for door card trim and the steering wheel have been changed whereas a local weather management panel has been enlarged for simpler use. The essential cabin format, together with its twin 12-inch shows, in any other case stays unchanged.
Regardless of plenty of accolades and powerful highway take a look at performances, the Ioniq 6 has remained a distinct segment mannequin within the Australian market with simply 374 deliveries in 2024, down from 623 items in 2023. These numbers are dwarfed by the segment-leading Tesla Mannequin 3, which recorded greater than 17,000 deliveries in each years.
The pricing hole between the 2 rivals is critical with the Ioniq 6 vary opening at $67,300 earlier than on-road prices for a primary variant fitted with a 53.0kWh battery, whereas the longer-range variants (77.4kWh) begin from $73,300 BOCS.
Australian consumers at present have entry to a comparatively broad Ioniq 6 line, together with the selection of the 2 aforementioned battery sizes, rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and three variants—the eponymous base Ioniq 6 base trim, the mid-tier Dynamiq, and the top-end Epiq.
Whereas HMCA has not introduced pricing or specification adjustments for the mid-year facelift (together with whether or not the breadth of the vary shall be trimmed), a value and positioning reassessment might accompany the native launch to replicate extra aggressive circumstances within the EV area for the reason that Ioniq 6 launched.
Additional, GoAuto understands that important inventory of the outgoing Ioniq 6 have to be cleared, probably at discounted costs.
The Ioniq 6’s SUV-shaped sibling, the Ioniq 5, has loved noticeably stronger take-up in Australia, with 933 deliveries recorded in 2024.
