FIRST LOOK: Hyundai Ioniq 6 – Is This Tesla Rival Ugly or Awesome? | Top Gear

We know what you’re thinking: has Hyundai’s design department just dropped the ball spectacularly for the first time in years? To put it kindly the new Ioniq 6 is, er, challenging, but you may need to do a bit of internet cross-referencing to fully assimilate what you’re looking at here, because this is a car that doesn’t shy away from its influences. And what influences they are. Hyundai’s HG Wells-style time machine stopped off in the mid-Seventies for the rapturously received Ioniq 5, but this time we whirl further back to the Twenties and Thirties, a spectacularly creative time for automotive and transport design. Back then, streamlining was all the rage, and the results were often fascinatingly barmy. Nothing has changed. So let Top Gear Magazine’s Jason Barlow give you a design deep dive with head of Hyundai styling, Simon Loasby.

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[jamieDodds]

You can tell the designer has so much passion for this project and listening to him talk about the car was a joy

[jacksonm]

You know, I’m not a huge fan of the way this car looks, but the different thinking and the rejection of automotive normalcy in this design really makes me appreciate Hyundai and Kia more and more with each new vehicle they come out with. They’re super realistic with what they can do with each and every one of their designs and not overcharge people while still giving them tons of features, but still take risks and are bold and unapologetically themselves. Genuinely the Korean manufacturers are taking over and I for one am a massive fan.

[randomhero]

Hyundai is good design. Personal opinion aside, you can tell they're pushing the boundary of their price points and squeezing every penny out of their designs. I love anyone willing to push boundaries and try new things in a realistic manner, which they succeeded in doing.

[_Manual]

I like this a lot. Very impressed by Hyundai these days. I could rock one.

[Eric-qius]

no matter what others say, this is amazing. i never thought hyundai would build something like this.

[iqbal]

Hyundai has been so avant-garde with all their new designs lately, leaving everyone including the Germans in the dust. Bravo Hyundai!

[Shortyc]

Hats off to Kia and Hyundai no designing another car that looks like a Camry or a Tesla. Reminds me of the quirkiness that Saab use to come out with. I dig it 👍

[Jayhappyman]

Ma man absolutely nailed his hangeul history.
Not only does this guy know what he's doing but also seamlessly melts Hyundai's Korean heritage into the design. So cool.

[DanHonnen]

Kia and Hyundai are making some of the most interesting design choices in the industry at the moment, bravo chaps!

[BDMZ]

It's different, but still familiar! I'm in my 20s but love retro-futurist design! And the amount of inspirations for this car's design is insane... teardrops, peregrine falcons, peugeot, 70's cars, 80's media, pong, minecraft... lovin it. One problem. I have no money

[Pythonzzz]

I’ve been waiting for the release of this car for months and the design does not disappoint! I love it. Can’t wait to hear about specs and pricing.

[opmike]

Hyundai is really doing some striking designs with their EV's. I'm liking that they are choosing to be a bit more creative than just taking ICE designs and slapping an electric powertrain in them. Government regulations aside, with EV's more or less being a "sled" of motors and batteries, the entire upper part of the cars should be giving quite a bit of freedom.

[featherboards]

What a wonderful conversation about design influences, process, and compromises. Loved it.

[nformby]

What an incredibly well reasoned, original and interesting car. I’ve never been a fan of Hyundai but they’re definitely winning me around with the Ioniq cars. Much better too, than BMW.

[artxiom]

100% Awesome. Retro-Classic-Futuristic. Perfect example of form follows function. Kudos to Hyundai!

[jazzomanu]

I love all Hyundai cars. Design, tech, price....everything!

[qrlee]

Ioniq designers are fabulous. It looks friendly yet mysterious (love it). It is similar to Mona Lisa. Design interpretations will depend on mood, experience, and character. I thought Ioniq 5 was special and its sibling does not disappoint.

[peteruk]

Lovely looking car, made me smile when the rear lights went through the start up process - it reminded me of the old series of Lost in Space and the Robot talking !! Brilliant 👏

[Cybercian]

Hyundai is looking at what the other manufacturers are doing and asking, Why is that the norm? And then doing the complete opposite, I love it! If they’re that bold to step so far away from normal design, it can only make you excited for what they have yet to come.

[ivanimhof]

As a long time Saab-fan (I owned 7 Saab cars from the 1987 Saab 900 to the 2011 Saab 9-3X) and a current Ioniq Electric user I really love this car because it reminds me of the early Saab 92 car streamlined shape. I prefer really efficient, low power consumption cars with good dynamics, and the first Ioniq almost fulfills that (a bit more turbo-feeling could make it perfect). As far as I see the Ioniq 6 will have more than enough power and torque, yet could be quite battery-saver because of the extremely good cW. I really love how Hyundai optimized the shape. It's smooth, elegant, stylish... and at last not an overweight, oversized, overpowered SUV!