News Source: topspeed.com

Despite the number of hybrid vehicles introduced over the last dozen years or so, none have really been able to take too big of a bite out of the sales figures for the poster child of hybrids, the Toyota Prius. Hyundai looks to change all of that soon by launching its own dedicated hybrid hatchback.

First spied on the back of a car hauler heading to the Arctic Circle for extreme cold-weather testing earlier in 2015, the vehicle has returned into the spotlight as Hyundai  released a teaser photos, a few details about its drivetrain, and its official name. The big news is that the model, dubbed Ioniq, will also feature an all-electric drivetrain besides the more familiar hybrid  and plug-in hybrid  combos you get with the Prius.

As for the name, the company says it references "elements of its creation." An ion is an electrically-charged atom, linking to the car’s "clever combination of electrified powertrains," while the second part of the name references it unique place in the Hyundai lineup. Finally, the "Q" is depicted in the vehicle’s logo "as a visual breakthrough, acknowledging the fresh new approach of this advanced, low-emission model."

Granted, the Ioniq  comes with a lot of fancy words, but the new nameplate does have at least one thing to brag about: it’s the first production car to offer hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric drivetrain in the same exterior package.

Having unveiled the Ioniq to local media at its Namyang R&D Center in South Korea, Hyundai has release new photos and details about the upcoming hybrid model. A U.S. introduction is set to follow soon, so make sure you stick around for more info and official specs.

Updated 01/07/2016: Hyundai dropped the first official images, plus first details on Ioniq’s new hybrid system.

Although Hyundai has published just one photo of the actual car, it’s more than enough to confirm that the production vehicle is not as aggressive looking as the one seen in the renderings. However, that’s not to say that the Ioniq has a dull design. On the contrary, Hyundai  ’s hybrid sports quite an interesting design, blending the brand’s recent styling features with the purposeful design of the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight.

The Ioniq has a similar shape and size, short overhangs, a hatchback-like rear end, and tall rear fenders. On the other hand, it has a more conventional nose and windshield compared to the Prius, which will make it look less weird among other Hyundai products.

It also has a more upscale feel than its direct competitors thanks to a balanced combination of black inserts and chrome lower window trim, and two-tone wheels. Sure, these features will probably be available on the more expensive trim levels, but it’s nice to be able to order them rather than have to settle for a unitary look across the range. All told, the Ioniq is a fresh take in this segment and a vehicle that I would rather see compete against the Chevrolet Volt as far as looks go.

When Hyundai released the first teaser image of the interior, I honestly thought that the production version won’t be as interesting. Turns out I was wrong, as the actual interior is very similar to the renderings, featuring the same dashboard, a similar center stack arrangement, identical instrument cluster and flat-bottom steering wheel, and even the bright-blue inserts. The only thing that sets the production model apart from the rendering is that the center stack and console has more buttons and switches. Despite that, the design remains attractive and the center stack is by no means cluttered.

Details are scant as of this writing, but it appears that the touchscreen display between the center vents is somewhere in the seven- or eight-inch range. The instrument cluster appears to be purely digital, and from what I can make out, it looks like the speedometer is in the middle, with speed indicated by a blue arch of light. To the right side of the instrument cluster, the red mark at the bottom indicates either a battery meter or fuel gauge, depending on how the car is equipped.

The seats are wrapped in leather and feature blue accents, while the door panels are simple by design, but have numerous controls on the arm rest. Chrome is missing almost completely from the cabin, having been replaced by either blacked-out or bright-blue inserts, but this could be just an option.

While most details and specs are still being kept in the vault, Hyundai did say that the Ioniq will be available with three drivetrains. There will be a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid, both using a gasoline engine, as well as a full-electric version. This configuration will make the Ioniq the first mass-produced vehicle to offer these three powertrain options in the same body type.

According to Hyundai, the hybrid versions of the Ioniq will marry a 1.6-liter Kappa GDi gasoline engine to an electric motor developing 105 PS and 47 PS, respectively. The four-banger was developed specifically for this hybrid, and the Koreans claims to have achieved a class-leading thermal efficiency of 40 percent. The head and block are split for optimized cooling, while the 200-bar high pressure six-hole direct fuel injector further improves fuel consumption and reduces CO2 emissions. There’s no word on fuel efficiency yet, but the Ioniq’s economy should be much better than the 36 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway rating of the larger 2015 Sonata Hybrid.

Both the hybrid and plug-in hybrid will use an exclusive dual-clutch transmission (DCT).

As for the all-electric version, Hyundai says it will be powered by a high capacity, ultra-efficient lithium-ion battery. Expect it to return significantly more than 100 miles on a single charge.