Take A Closer Look At The Upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 7 SUV

The Ioniq 7 is set to be Hyundai's largest EV offering yet, but while the Kia equivalent, the EV9, has been fully unveiled and is getting ready for its US market launch, we haven't seen a production-spec Ioniq 7 yet. But we now have a closer look at the development mules thanks to a YouTuber in Korea, who got up close with the camouflaged SUV.

Just like previous sightings, the Ioniq 7 test mule here is still heavily concealed to shield details from prying eyes. The YouTuber documented a pretty close view, though, revealing some details such as the placements of the LED daytime running lamps. They appear to be production-ready this time compared to the previous test mule. The sizable electric SUV is also seen wearing a set of 21-inch wheels.

The Ioniq 7 is parked alongside the production version of the Kia EV9, its E-GMP platform counterpart from Hyundai's sister brand. The Ioniq version looks a bit larger, however. It also features a flatter pair of roof rails and a straighter rear end, though we suspect those are just the faux panels fooling our eyes.

As expected, the upcoming EV can seat up to seven, with captain's seats for the second row and a minimalist-looking dash and front area of the cockpit. It also gets similar exterior design cues to the Seven Concept that will inspire the production car. We can see the same split LED headlights, which are expected to retain the pixelated design language used on the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6.

Some bits from the concept appear to have been toned down. For instance, its rear bumper sits lower to the ground and is much chunkier than the concept. The huge haunches on the Seven concept have been slimmed down. It also gets a boatload of visible exterior cameras, presumably for its advanced driver-assistance systems that have become the norm for EVs.

For now, not much is known about the specs of the upcoming Ioniq 7, but it is expected to use recycled materials for many of its bits. It might also get a "more than 298 miles" range if we refer to the Seven Concept. Then again, The Korean Car Blog claims that it has a range of 397 miles thanks to a newly developed battery with a much higher energy density.

There are no power figures for the Ioniq 7 for now, but if it's any indication, the Kia EV9 platform twin has a dual motor option that makes option 380 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. We're expecting a reveal in 2024.