Hyundai will bring an all-electric midsize SUV to next week’s Los Angeles Auto Show. Officially still a concept vehicle, it’s called the Hyundai SEVEN. But persistent online rumors say a future version of the car will go on sale as the Hyundai Ioniq 7 within a few years.
A Palisade-Sized EV?
The Ioniq 7 moniker would fit into Hyundai’s naming scheme for its expected lineup of electric vehicles (EVs). For instance, the funky Ioniq 5 compact crossover reaches dealerships early next year. The automaker has also hinted at a curvaceous Ioniq 6 sedan to follow.
The SEVEN concept is a 3-row midsize SUV, like the popular Hyundai Palisade. But it is far from an electric version of the Palisade.
Digital Design Theme Outside
Photos show a clamshell hood above an upright front fascia dominated by a meshwork of tiny boxes, all of which may be lights. Hyundai calls them “parametric pixels,” a “unique design identity connecting analog with digital emotions.” That explains everything.
Pixels make up a lightbar above, suggesting that the car may play animations across its lighting.
Curvy Exposed Wood, Sleek Seating Inside
Inside, the SEVEN features seats that wouldn’t be out of place in a midcentury modern design gallery. Hyundai says the look “suggests a premium and personalized lounge ambiance” and uses sustainable materials.
It’s an ambitious cabin. But highly unusual design features in concept cars rarely make it to production. We wouldn’t be surprised to see more conventional shapes in the eventual Ioniq 7. The teaser photos don’t hint at whether the SEVEN offers two rows of seating or three.
Little Family Resemblance
Perhaps what’s most unique about the SEVEN is that it doesn’t closely resemble the Ioniq 5. Most automakers develop a single design scheme they can scale up or down to create a family of similar-looking vehicles. Hyundai designers have said they may depart from that idea with their planned slate of electric vehicles.
If the SEVEN accurately previews an eventual Palisade-sized EV, Hyundai may genuinely be designing an entire lineup of striking EVs with their own distinct design themes.
