Is Hyundai near unveiling the long-anticipated IONIQ 3 EV? A brand new automobile with the codename ‘OE’ has resurfaced, hinting it might be a smaller variant of the IONIQ 5. Right here’s what we all know thus far about this upcoming electrical automobile.
When Will Hyundai Launch the IONIQ 3?
Hyundai has been actively introducing new electrical fashions globally, together with within the US, Europe, and China. Current reviews recommend that the ‘OE’ mannequin may doubtlessly be the IONIQ 3. Beforehand, Hyundai assigned codenames like “CE” and “NE” to their electrical fashions, together with the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6, respectively.
The newest mannequin to obtain a codename is the three-row IONIQ 9 SUV, which was unveiled on the LA Auto Present final month. This SUV was beforehand known as “ME” earlier than its official reveal.
As extra photos of the “OE” mannequin circulated on-line, Hyundai’s three way partnership in China, Beijing Hyundai, appeared to verify the brand new EV through an area regulatory portal. Screenshots from Autospy have revived the “OE1C” codename, affirming that will probably be an electrical SUV anticipated to launch in 2026. Moreover, one other mannequin generally known as “EA1C” can also be listed.
Rumors circulating on TheKoreanCarBlog recommend that this elusive mannequin would possibly lastly be the IONIQ 3 or maybe even the IONIQ 4. This electrical SUV is anticipated to be primarily based on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform, which can also be the muse for the IONIQ 5, 6, 9, and a number of other Kia electrical automobiles.
Whereas particulars stay sparse, the IONIQ 3 is anticipated to be barely smaller than the favored IONIQ 5 and is probably going comparable in dimension to Kia’s new EV3.
Current spy photographs reveal design parts harking back to the IONIQ collection, such because the wheels, door handles, and varied inside options.
The brand new Hyundai EV is more likely to supply each single and dual-motor configurations, together with battery pack choices of 62 or 84 kWh. By comparability, Kia’s EV3 boasts a most vary of as much as 605 km (375 miles) on the WLTP cycle with its bigger (81.4 kWh) battery, whereas the smaller (58.3 kWh) model gives a spread of round 436 km (271 miles).
In Europe, the Kia EV3 has a beginning worth of roughly 36,000 euros ($38,300), whereas it may be bought for below $30,000 in Korea after incentives.
It is intriguing to contemplate how the IONIQ 3 will stack up towards Hyundai’s Casper Electrical. This mannequin, also referred to as the Inster EV in Europe, begins at about $20,000 (27.4 million received) in Korea.
The Casper Electrical relies on Hyundai’s smaller H2 platform and affords a spread of as much as 315 km (195 miles) in Korea or 355 km (221 miles) below the WLTP testing requirements.
The brand new Hyundai electrical SUV will make its preliminary debut in China in early 2026, leaving these in markets just like the US and Europe ready for updates on its potential launch overseas. Keep tuned for additional developments.
Supply: TheKoreanCarBlog, Autospy
