Latest news with #Ioniq5
CNET
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- CNET
Waymo Is Expanding to Dallas. Everything to Know About the Robotaxi
Table of Contents Waymo Is Expanding to Dallas. Everything to Know About the Robotaxi Self-driving cars are slowly becoming less sci-fi and more real-world as companies like Waymo, the autonomous arm of Google's parent Alphabet, expand into more cities. On Monday, the company shared it's planning to make its robotaxi service available in Dallas through a partnership with Avis Budget Group, which will manage the fleet. Waymo has already begun early testing there, and says it plans to offer public rides in the city next year. Waymo currently operates fully autonomous rides for the general public in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Austin, Texas, which take place aboard the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace. The vehicles can be summoned either via the Waymo One app or Uber, depending on the city. Waymo plans to begin offering rides in Washington, DC, and Miami starting in 2026. In April, it said it'll begin driving its vehicles on Tokyo's streets, making this the company's first international location. Earlier this month, Waymo's vehicles also arrived on the streets of New York City, where the company will begin by manually collecting driving data. It's also rolling out a limited fleet of vehicles with human drivers in Philadelphia. The goal is to develop its technology and possibly expand its ride-hailing service to those cities someday. In January, Waymo announced it would begin testing with manually driven vehicles in 10 new cities this year, starting with Las Vegas and San Diego. And in April, it said it reached a preliminary agreement with Toyota to "explore a collaboration" geared toward developing autonomous driving tech, which could someday be factored into personally owned vehicles. Waymo's expansion extends to its manufacturing facilities as well. In May, the company said it's opening a new, 239,000-square-foot autonomous vehicle factory in the Phoenix area. The plan is to add 2,000 more fully autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles to its existing 1,500-vehicle fleet. Notably, Waymo indicated it received its "final delivery from Jaguar" earlier this year, as it plans for future iterations of its driverless rides. Waymo added that the "facility's flexible design" will allow it to integrate its upcoming sixth-generation self-driving technology into new vehicles, starting with the all-electric Zeekr RT. In October, Waymo also announced that it's partnering with Hyundai to bring the next generation of its technology into Ioniq 5 SUVs. In the years to come, riders will be able to summon those all-electric, autonomous vehicles using the Waymo One app. The self-driving company says it provides more than 250,000 paid trips each week and drives across more than 700 square miles across the US. I've hailed several rides myself in San Francisco and, as off-putting as it can seem at first (especially to see a steering wheel turn by itself), I quickly adjusted, and it soon felt like an ordinary ride. That's not to say there hasn't been pushback as Waymo rolls out to more cities. The company's vehicles have been involved in a handful of high-profile collisions, including one with a bicyclist in San Francisco and another with a towed pickup truck in Phoenix. (Waymo recalled and updated its software to address the issue.) Waymo's Safety Impact report notes that over the course of 71 million autonomous miles driven through March 2025, its Waymo Driver technology had 88% fewer crashes leading to serious injuries or worse and 78% fewer injury-causing crashes, compared with "an average human driver over the same distance in our operating cities." It also reported significantly fewer crashes with injuries to pedestrians (93%), cyclists (81%) and motorcyclists (86%). As Waymo continues to expand and develop its self-driving tech, here's how and where to summon the robotaxi if you happen to be in one of the few cities where the company currently operates its fleet. Now Playing: Testing Waymo's Safe Exit Feature in a Self-Driving Taxi 05:29 Hailing a ride in Phoenix Phoenix was the first city to open up fully autonomous Waymo rides to the public, in 2020. To hail a ride, download the Waymo One app on iOS or Android. The service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also use the Uber app to summon one of Waymo's vehicles in Phoenix. When you request an UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric ride, you'll have the choice to confirm a Waymo ride, if you're matched. In addition to hailing a ride, you may also have your Uber Eats meal delivered by an autonomous car. When placing an order in the Phoenix area, you might get a note that "autonomous vehicles may deliver your order." When the Waymo car arrives, take your phone with you to pop open the trunk and grab your delivery. You can opt out of this during checkout if you'd rather have a human deliver your food. Hailing a ride in the San Francisco Bay Area San Francisco followed suit after Phoenix, rolling out fully autonomous rides in late 2022. It scrapped the waiting list in June 2024, so now anyone can download the Waymo One app to ride anytime. The service also operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There's currently no Uber partnership in San Francisco. In August 2024, Waymo expanded its ride-hailing service into the San Francisco Peninsula, and expanded again in March so that select Waymo One riders who live in Mountain View, Los Altos, Palo Alto and parts of Sunnyvale have the option to hail a robotaxi there, too. In June, it expanded further into the Peninsula, and its service area now includes Brisbane, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, Daly City, Broadmoor and Colma. Select riders can now also access Mountain View and more parts of Palo Alto and Menlo Park. In May, the California Public Utilities Commission approved Waymo's application to operate in South Bay and nearly all of San Jose, opening up the door to future expansions. Hailing a ride in Los Angeles County In November, Waymo scrapped its waitlist for Los Angeles and began welcoming all public riders via the Waymo One app. Now any interested passengers can hop in the robotaxis 24/7 and ride across nearly 120 square miles of LA County, including Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Inglewood, Silver Lake, Playa del Rey, Ladera Heights, Echo Park and Downtown LA, and along all of Sunset Boulevard. There's currently no Uber partnership in Los Angeles. Hailing a ride in Austin Riders can hail a Waymo across 90 square miles of Austin, including neighborhoods like Crestview, Windsor Park and Franklin Park and locations like The Domain and McKinney Falls State Park. There are more than 100 Waymo vehicles in the city, with plans for further expansion. In Austin, the only way to hail a Waymo ride is through Uber -- no Waymo One app here. By requesting an UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric, you could be matched with a Waymo vehicle -- and you won't be upcharged. If you'd rather not take a driverless ride, you'll have the option to switch to a standard one. On the other hand, if you want to boost your chances of being matched to a self-driving car, you can go to Account > Settings > Autonomous vehicles, then hit the toggle next to Get more Waymo rides. Unlock the door, pop open the trunk and start the ride from the Uber app. You'll still be asked to rate your ride at the end, but you won't be asked to tip. If there are any issues, riders can access human support 24/7 via the Uber app and from inside the Waymo vehicle (there are screens in the front and back that let you quickly summon customer support). As part of the Uber partnership, Uber will manage tasks like vehicle cleaning and repair, while "Waymo will continue to be responsible for the testing and operation of the Waymo Driver, including roadside assistance and certain rider support functions," the companies said. The collaboration should make autonomous rides accessible to more people, who now won't have to download a separate app to hitch a ride in a robotaxi. Hailing a ride in Atlanta Waymo operates across 65 square miles of Atlanta, with plans for future expansions. Like in Austin, you can climb aboard a Waymo robotaxi only via the Uber app. When you book a ride through UberX, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric, you might be paired with a Waymo vehicle at no additional cost. You'll have the option to accept or decline the driverless ride each time. You can unlock the vehicle, pop the trunk and start the trip all from the Uber app, and you can access human support 24/7 via the Uber app and from touchscreens inside the vehicle. If you want to boost your chances of being paired with a Waymo vehicle, you can opt in by going to the Uber app, tapping Account > Settings > Autonomous vehicles (under Ride Preferences), and then hitting the toggle next to Get more Waymo rides. Upcoming expansions Dallas Waymo is currently conducting early testing in Dallas, with plans to launch public rides via the Waymo One app next year. The company is teaming up with Avis Budget Group, which will manage the fleet, including vehicle cleaning and maintenance. "Our partnership with Waymo marks a pivotal milestone in our evolution, from a rental car company to a leading provider of fleet management, infrastructure and operations to the broader mobility ecosystem," Avis Budget Group CEO Brian Choi said in a statement. "Together, we're committed to making scaled autonomous mobility a reality for the people of Dallas, with plans to expand to additional cities in the near future." New York City In June, Waymo shared plans to bring its autonomous tech back to New York City, after having first manually operated its vehicles there in 2021. It'll once again start by driving manually in the Big Apple, as it waits to hear about its permit application with the New York City Department of Transportation to operate autonomously with a human behind the wheel. Waymo is not yet expanding its ride-hailing service to New York City, but says it plans to do so in the future. Existing laws in the state of New York don't permit the same fully autonomous ride-hailing service that companies like Waymo offer in other parts of the country. Waymo says it's "advocating for a change in state law that would allow for operating a vehicle with no human behind the wheel," adding, "we have every intention of bringing our fully autonomous ride-hailing service to the city in the future." In early July, Waymo began manually operating its vehicles in Manhattan, parts of Downtown Brooklyn, Jersey City and Hoboken. If NYCDOT grants the company's permit, Waymo says it'll drive autonomously with a specialist behind the wheel in New York City, but not in New Jersey. Philadelphia Waymo said in July that it's bringing a limited fleet of its vehicles to "the most complex parts" of Philadelphia, "including downtown and freeways." These vehicles will have human drivers behind the wheel as the company continues to develop its driving capabilities. There are no immediate plans to launch a robotaxi service there. Washington, DC Waymo plans to start offering rides through its Waymo One app in Washington, DC, in 2026. The company returned to the nation's capital in January to test its autonomous driving tech. In late March, it said it was bringing more vehicles to the city and working to scale its service throughout the year. In a blog post, Waymo said it'll "continue to work closely with policymakers to formalize the regulations needed to operate without a human behind the wheel in the District." Miami You'll also have to wait until 2026 to ride a Waymo in Miami. The company has been conducting weather testing in the lead-up to that eventual rollout, noting in a blog post, "Our previous road trips to the Sunshine State's challenging rainy conditions have been invaluable in advancing our autonomous driving capabilities." Waymo will collaborate with Moove, a fintech company that offers vehicle financing, first in Phoenix, where Moove will manage the robotaxi's fleet operations, facilities and charging infrastructure. In Phoenix and then Miami, "Waymo will continue to offer our service through the Waymo One app, and remain responsible for validation and operation of the Waymo Driver," the company said in a blog post. Tokyo Waymo's expansion into Tokyo, which was announced in December, is happening in partnership with Japanese taxi service Nihon Kotsu and taxi app Go. In April, the self-driving company shared that it's finally ready to hit the road abroad. Waymo says trained Nihon Kotsu drivers will manually drive its vehicles across seven Tokyo wards, including Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa and Kōtō. This will allow engineers to test and adapt Waymo's autonomous driving tech to local road features and traffic. "In Tokyo, we are abiding by the same steadfast principles that guide us in the US -- commitment to safety, dedication to earning trust in communities where we operate, and collaboration with local officials and community groups here in Tokyo," Nicole Gavel, Waymo's head of business development and strategic partnerships, said in a statement. It's not clear when riders will be able to hitch a self-driving ride with Waymo in Tokyo. The road ahead: Future vehicles In August, Waymo unveiled the sixth generation of its self-driving technology, which strives to expand the capabilities of its driverless fleet. Smarter sensors are meant to help the cars better navigate in extreme weather, Waymo said. The sixth-gen Driver will come aboard the all-electric Zeekr vehicle, which features a flat floor, more head- and legroom, adjustable seats and a removable steering wheel and pedals. The updated tech is still being tested, but the company says it'll be available to riders soon. In October, Waymo also announced a partnership with Hyundai to integrate its sixth-generation Driver into the all-electric Ioniq 5 SUV, which, according to a blog post, "will be added to the Waymo One fleet over time." The companies added that they "plan to produce a fleet of Ioniq 5s equipped with Waymo's technology in significant volume over multiple years to support Waymo One's growing scale." Testing with these vehicles will start by late 2025 and become available "in the years to follow." Currently, everyday riders can't take a Waymo vehicle on highways and freeways, but that may soon change. The company is testing fully autonomous rides on freeways in Phoenix, as seen in an exclusive video shared with CNET in May. It's also now making fully autonomous freeway rides available to Waymo employees in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. Waymo is working to expand its autonomous driving tech into trucking as well, but it said last year that it's scaling back those efforts for the time being, to focus on ride-hailing with Waymo One. It noted, "Our ongoing investment in advancing Waymo Driver capabilities, especially on freeways, will directly translate to trucking and benefit its development efforts."
7NEWS
2 days ago
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Cheaper Hyundai Ioniq 2 EV spied testing ahead of official reveal
Hyundai already has a small electric SUV with the Kona Electric, but it's working on another that's set to go on sale in 2026. According to UK publication Autocar, Hyundai has confirmed it will reveal an unnamed electric crossover in the next few months which will hit Europe showrooms in late 2026. The unnamed crossover is believed to be the Hyundai Ioniq 2 five-door small SUV caught testing in Europe ahead of its official reveal, the timing suggesting it will be on display at the Munich motor show in Germany this September. The Ioniq 2 is expected to face a swag of circa €30,000 ($A53,618) electric rivals in Europe, including the Renault 5 E-Tech and upcoming Volkswagen ID.2. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The Ioniq 2 was reportedly developed alongside the EV2 small electric SUV – all but ruled out for Australia – from sister brand Kia. Having just launched the Ioniq 9 flagship electric SUV in Australia – its most expensive car ever – the Ioniq 2 will join the Ioniq 5 hatchback and Ioniq 6 sedan as the fourth model in the Ioniq EV range. Hyundai has previously said it intends to introduce Ioniq EV models from 1 to 9, with each higher number corresponding to an increase in size. There's little official information on the Ioniq 2 so far, which beyond a reference to an unnamed electric crossover is yet to be officially confirmed by the automaker. Based on the naming strategy, the Ioniq 2 will sit above the funky Hyundai Inster EV, a city-sized urban hatch based on the Picanto platform from sister brand Kia, but below the Kona EV in terms of size and price. That means the Ioniq 2 should sit between the top-priced Inster Cross – priced at $45,000 before on-road costs – and the entry level Kona Electric's $54,000 list price in Australia. The Ioniq 2 is also expected to use a version of the dedicated electric E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform) shared with the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 as well as the Genesis GV60 from the company's luxury division. A low-cost version of the platform, similar to the Kia EV3 's underpinnings, could also bring its 400V charging capability and choice of 58.3kWh and 81.4kWh lithium-ion batteries. The Australian-spec EV3 has a range of up to 604km and a maximum DC charge rate of 127kW. Autocar has suggested a 'step change' in design for the Ioniq 2's cabin, including new infotainment which is expected to be combined with the driver's digital instruments. Now EV-only, the Ioniq name was previously used on a five-door hatch sold in Australia between 2018 and 2022 offered with a Toyota Prius -rivalling hybrid powertrain as well as a battery-electric version and a plug-in hybrid.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Cheaper Hyundai Ioniq 2 EV spied testing ahead of official reveal
Hyundai already has a small electric SUV with the Kona Electric, but it's working on another that's set to go on sale in 2026. According to UK publication Autocar, Hyundai has confirmed it will reveal an unnamed electric crossover in the next few months which will hit Europe showrooms in late 2026. The unnamed crossover is believed to be the Hyundai Ioniq 2 five-door small SUV caught testing in Europe ahead of its official reveal, the timing suggesting it will be on display at the Munich motor show in Germany this September. The Ioniq 2 is expected to face a swag of circa €30,000 ($A53,618) electric rivals in Europe, including the Renault 5 E-Tech and upcoming Volkswagen ID.2. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Ioniq 2 was reportedly developed alongside the EV2 small electric SUV – all but ruled out for Australia – from sister brand Kia. Having just launched the Ioniq 9 flagship electric SUV in Australia – its most expensive car ever – the Ioniq 2 will join the Ioniq 5 hatchback and Ioniq 6 sedan as the fourth model in the Ioniq EV range. Hyundai has previously said it intends to introduce Ioniq EV models from 1 to 9, with each higher number corresponding to an increase in size. There's little official information on the Ioniq 2 so far, which beyond a reference to an unnamed electric crossover is yet to be officially confirmed by the automaker. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Based on the naming strategy, the Ioniq 2 will sit above the funky Hyundai Inster EV, a city-sized urban hatch based on the Picanto platform from sister brand Kia, but below the Kona EV in terms of size and price. That means the Ioniq 2 should sit between the top-priced Inster Cross – priced at $45,000 before on-road costs – and the entry level Kona Electric's $54,000 list price in Australia. The Ioniq 2 is also expected to use a version of the dedicated electric E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform) shared with the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 as well as the Genesis GV60 from the company's luxury division. A low-cost version of the platform, similar to the Kia EV3's underpinnings, could also bring its 400V charging capability and choice of 58.3kWh and 81.4kWh lithium-ion batteries. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Australian-spec EV3 has a range of up to 604km and a maximum DC charge rate of 127kW. Autocar has suggested a 'step change' in design for the Ioniq 2's cabin, including new infotainment which is expected to be combined with the driver's digital instruments. Now EV-only, the Ioniq name was previously used on a five-door hatch sold in Australia between 2018 and 2022 offered with a Toyota Prius-rivalling hybrid powertrain as well as a battery-electric version and a plug-in hybrid. MORE: Everything Hyundai MORE: Australia has a new cheapest sedanMORE: 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N is Korea's first track-ready EV sports sedan
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Cheaper Hyundai Ioniq 2 EV spied testing ahead of official reveal
Hyundai already has a small electric SUV with the Kona Electric, but it's working on another that's set to go on sale in 2026. According to UK publication Autocar, Hyundai has confirmed it will reveal an unnamed electric crossover in the next few months which will hit Europe showrooms in late 2026. The unnamed crossover is believed to be the Hyundai Ioniq 2 five-door small SUV caught testing in Europe ahead of its official reveal, the timing suggesting it will be on display at the Munich motor show in Germany this September. The Ioniq 2 is expected to face a swag of circa €30,000 ($A53,618) electric rivals in Europe, including the Renault 5 E-Tech and upcoming Volkswagen ID.2. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The Ioniq 2 was reportedly developed alongside the EV2 small electric SUV – all but ruled out for Australia – from sister brand Kia. Having just launched the Ioniq 9 flagship electric SUV in Australia – its most expensive car ever – the Ioniq 2 will join the Ioniq 5 hatchback and Ioniq 6 sedan as the fourth model in the Ioniq EV range. Hyundai has previously said it intends to introduce Ioniq EV models from 1 to 9, with each higher number corresponding to an increase in size. There's little official information on the Ioniq 2 so far, which beyond a reference to an unnamed electric crossover is yet to be officially confirmed by the automaker. Based on the naming strategy, the Ioniq 2 will sit above the funky Hyundai Inster EV, a city-sized urban hatch based on the Picanto platform from sister brand Kia, but below the Kona EV in terms of size and price. That means the Ioniq 2 should sit between the top-priced Inster Cross – priced at $45,000 before on-road costs – and the entry level Kona Electric's $54,000 list price in Australia. The Ioniq 2 is also expected to use a version of the dedicated electric E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform) shared with the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 as well as the Genesis GV60 from the company's luxury division. A low-cost version of the platform, similar to the Kia EV3's underpinnings, could also bring its 400V charging capability and choice of 58.3kWh and 81.4kWh lithium-ion batteries. The Australian-spec EV3 has a range of up to 604km and a maximum DC charge rate of 127kW. Autocar has suggested a 'step change' in design for the Ioniq 2's cabin, including new infotainment which is expected to be combined with the driver's digital instruments. Now EV-only, the Ioniq name was previously used on a five-door hatch sold in Australia between 2018 and 2022 offered with a Toyota Prius-rivalling hybrid powertrain as well as a battery-electric version and a plug-in hybrid. MORE: Everything Hyundai MORE: Australia has a new cheapest sedanMORE: 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N is Korea's first track-ready EV sports sedan Content originally sourced from: Hyundai already has a small electric SUV with the Kona Electric, but it's working on another that's set to go on sale in 2026. According to UK publication Autocar, Hyundai has confirmed it will reveal an unnamed electric crossover in the next few months which will hit Europe showrooms in late 2026. The unnamed crossover is believed to be the Hyundai Ioniq 2 five-door small SUV caught testing in Europe ahead of its official reveal, the timing suggesting it will be on display at the Munich motor show in Germany this September. The Ioniq 2 is expected to face a swag of circa €30,000 ($A53,618) electric rivals in Europe, including the Renault 5 E-Tech and upcoming Volkswagen ID.2. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The Ioniq 2 was reportedly developed alongside the EV2 small electric SUV – all but ruled out for Australia – from sister brand Kia. Having just launched the Ioniq 9 flagship electric SUV in Australia – its most expensive car ever – the Ioniq 2 will join the Ioniq 5 hatchback and Ioniq 6 sedan as the fourth model in the Ioniq EV range. Hyundai has previously said it intends to introduce Ioniq EV models from 1 to 9, with each higher number corresponding to an increase in size. There's little official information on the Ioniq 2 so far, which beyond a reference to an unnamed electric crossover is yet to be officially confirmed by the automaker. Based on the naming strategy, the Ioniq 2 will sit above the funky Hyundai Inster EV, a city-sized urban hatch based on the Picanto platform from sister brand Kia, but below the Kona EV in terms of size and price. That means the Ioniq 2 should sit between the top-priced Inster Cross – priced at $45,000 before on-road costs – and the entry level Kona Electric's $54,000 list price in Australia. The Ioniq 2 is also expected to use a version of the dedicated electric E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform) shared with the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 as well as the Genesis GV60 from the company's luxury division. A low-cost version of the platform, similar to the Kia EV3's underpinnings, could also bring its 400V charging capability and choice of 58.3kWh and 81.4kWh lithium-ion batteries. The Australian-spec EV3 has a range of up to 604km and a maximum DC charge rate of 127kW. Autocar has suggested a 'step change' in design for the Ioniq 2's cabin, including new infotainment which is expected to be combined with the driver's digital instruments. Now EV-only, the Ioniq name was previously used on a five-door hatch sold in Australia between 2018 and 2022 offered with a Toyota Prius-rivalling hybrid powertrain as well as a battery-electric version and a plug-in hybrid. MORE: Everything Hyundai MORE: Australia has a new cheapest sedanMORE: 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N is Korea's first track-ready EV sports sedan Content originally sourced from: Hyundai already has a small electric SUV with the Kona Electric, but it's working on another that's set to go on sale in 2026. According to UK publication Autocar, Hyundai has confirmed it will reveal an unnamed electric crossover in the next few months which will hit Europe showrooms in late 2026. The unnamed crossover is believed to be the Hyundai Ioniq 2 five-door small SUV caught testing in Europe ahead of its official reveal, the timing suggesting it will be on display at the Munich motor show in Germany this September. The Ioniq 2 is expected to face a swag of circa €30,000 ($A53,618) electric rivals in Europe, including the Renault 5 E-Tech and upcoming Volkswagen ID.2. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The Ioniq 2 was reportedly developed alongside the EV2 small electric SUV – all but ruled out for Australia – from sister brand Kia. Having just launched the Ioniq 9 flagship electric SUV in Australia – its most expensive car ever – the Ioniq 2 will join the Ioniq 5 hatchback and Ioniq 6 sedan as the fourth model in the Ioniq EV range. Hyundai has previously said it intends to introduce Ioniq EV models from 1 to 9, with each higher number corresponding to an increase in size. There's little official information on the Ioniq 2 so far, which beyond a reference to an unnamed electric crossover is yet to be officially confirmed by the automaker. Based on the naming strategy, the Ioniq 2 will sit above the funky Hyundai Inster EV, a city-sized urban hatch based on the Picanto platform from sister brand Kia, but below the Kona EV in terms of size and price. That means the Ioniq 2 should sit between the top-priced Inster Cross – priced at $45,000 before on-road costs – and the entry level Kona Electric's $54,000 list price in Australia. The Ioniq 2 is also expected to use a version of the dedicated electric E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform) shared with the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 as well as the Genesis GV60 from the company's luxury division. A low-cost version of the platform, similar to the Kia EV3's underpinnings, could also bring its 400V charging capability and choice of 58.3kWh and 81.4kWh lithium-ion batteries. The Australian-spec EV3 has a range of up to 604km and a maximum DC charge rate of 127kW. Autocar has suggested a 'step change' in design for the Ioniq 2's cabin, including new infotainment which is expected to be combined with the driver's digital instruments. Now EV-only, the Ioniq name was previously used on a five-door hatch sold in Australia between 2018 and 2022 offered with a Toyota Prius-rivalling hybrid powertrain as well as a battery-electric version and a plug-in hybrid. MORE: Everything Hyundai MORE: Australia has a new cheapest sedanMORE: 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N is Korea's first track-ready EV sports sedan Content originally sourced from: Hyundai already has a small electric SUV with the Kona Electric, but it's working on another that's set to go on sale in 2026. According to UK publication Autocar, Hyundai has confirmed it will reveal an unnamed electric crossover in the next few months which will hit Europe showrooms in late 2026. The unnamed crossover is believed to be the Hyundai Ioniq 2 five-door small SUV caught testing in Europe ahead of its official reveal, the timing suggesting it will be on display at the Munich motor show in Germany this September. The Ioniq 2 is expected to face a swag of circa €30,000 ($A53,618) electric rivals in Europe, including the Renault 5 E-Tech and upcoming Volkswagen ID.2. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The Ioniq 2 was reportedly developed alongside the EV2 small electric SUV – all but ruled out for Australia – from sister brand Kia. Having just launched the Ioniq 9 flagship electric SUV in Australia – its most expensive car ever – the Ioniq 2 will join the Ioniq 5 hatchback and Ioniq 6 sedan as the fourth model in the Ioniq EV range. Hyundai has previously said it intends to introduce Ioniq EV models from 1 to 9, with each higher number corresponding to an increase in size. There's little official information on the Ioniq 2 so far, which beyond a reference to an unnamed electric crossover is yet to be officially confirmed by the automaker. Based on the naming strategy, the Ioniq 2 will sit above the funky Hyundai Inster EV, a city-sized urban hatch based on the Picanto platform from sister brand Kia, but below the Kona EV in terms of size and price. That means the Ioniq 2 should sit between the top-priced Inster Cross – priced at $45,000 before on-road costs – and the entry level Kona Electric's $54,000 list price in Australia. The Ioniq 2 is also expected to use a version of the dedicated electric E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform) shared with the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 as well as the Genesis GV60 from the company's luxury division. A low-cost version of the platform, similar to the Kia EV3's underpinnings, could also bring its 400V charging capability and choice of 58.3kWh and 81.4kWh lithium-ion batteries. The Australian-spec EV3 has a range of up to 604km and a maximum DC charge rate of 127kW. Autocar has suggested a 'step change' in design for the Ioniq 2's cabin, including new infotainment which is expected to be combined with the driver's digital instruments. Now EV-only, the Ioniq name was previously used on a five-door hatch sold in Australia between 2018 and 2022 offered with a Toyota Prius-rivalling hybrid powertrain as well as a battery-electric version and a plug-in hybrid. MORE: Everything Hyundai MORE: Australia has a new cheapest sedanMORE: 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N is Korea's first track-ready EV sports sedan Content originally sourced from:
Auto Express
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Hyundai slashes prices across its entire EV range
Hyundai is the latest manufacturer to respond to the Government's convoluted Electric Car Grant by slashing prices on all its electric models – even those that definitely won't be eligible for any subsidies. Aligning with the official bands, Hyundai has cut the price of the baby Inster by £3,750, which means it now kicks off from under £20,000, while the rest of the brand's electric line-up – the Kona Electric, Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 9 – all drop by £1,500. That includes the high-performance Ioniq 5 N, and is despite only the Kona being under the Government's £37,000 threshold for grant eligibility. Advertisement - Article continues below The Korean brand has moved amid uncertainty caused by the Government's announcement of its new grant, which has led to consumers holding back on ordering EVs until it becomes clearer which will – or won't – be eligible. Environmental conditions around the grant application make it harder for Asian brands to qualify, although more detail will emerge in the coming days and weeks on which manufacturers are included. As manufacturers continue to react to the EV Grant, you can find the latest top deals on electric cars through the Auto Express marketplace and our parent company Carwow has a live EV deals page tracking the latest offers . Hyundai is yet to make clear how long the price cuts will be in effect, and its decision follows similar moves by Alfa Romeo, Kia, Leapmotor and MG in recent days to shore up demand. 'As the electric vehicle landscape continues to evolve, it is important that customers have complete clarity, choice and compelling value when making the switch to electric,' said Hyundai UK boss Ashley Andrew. 'By providing immediate financial support through our grant programme, we're ensuring that more customers can experience the significant long-term savings that come with electric driving.' Bag yourself a top EV deal! Our nationwide dealer network has some fantastic cars on offer right now with new, used and leasing deals to choose from... Find a car with the experts Dacia's baby EV due in 12 months with a tiny £15k price tag Dacia's baby EV due in 12 months with a tiny £15k price tag Dacia's new model will be developed in double-quick time, and it'll be built in Europe to avoid China tariffs MG4 and MGS5 EV prices slashed in reply to Government Electric Car Grant MG4 and MGS5 EV prices slashed in reply to Government Electric Car Grant In order to boost sales, MG is announcing its own a £1,500 grant for some of its EVs Renault will 'stick to the plan' as it hits number 2 in Europe Renault will 'stick to the plan' as it hits number 2 in Europe Renault has no plans to fight Volkswagen for sales supremacy, despite huge growth in EV sales due to new Renault 5
