Hyundai unveils sleek new IONIQ V: a production car that looks like a concept

Hyundai unveiled the IONIQ V at Auto China 2026 in Beijing today, a sleek electric liftback with over 600 km of CLTC range built on an 800V platform with CATL batteries. It’s the production version of the Venus concept the automaker revealed earlier this month.

The IONIQ V is the first dedicated IONIQ production model for the Chinese market, and it marks the beginning of an aggressive 20-model offensive as Hyundai tries to claw back relevance in the world’s largest EV market.

A sleek new design language for China

The IONIQ V introduces Hyundai’s new “The Origin” design language for its all-electric lineup in China. It doesn’t look like any other IONIQ model currently on sale — the single-curve silhouette, frameless doors, and floating side mirrors give it a distinctly different character from the angular IONIQ 5 or the streamlined IONIQ 6.

The vehicle measures 4,900 mm long and 1,890 mm wide, with a massive 2,900 mm wheelbase that Hyundai says delivers class-leading legroom — 1,078 mm in the front and 1,019 mm in the rear. Inside, a 27-inch 4K-resolution touchscreen stretches across the right side of the dashboard, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chipset running an LLM-based AI assistant for voice control of key vehicle functions.

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Built on a co-developed platform with CATL batteries

The IONIQ V rides on a platform co-developed with Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC), Hyundai’s local manufacturing partner. The 800V architecture enables fast charging, and the battery packs come from CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer.

Hyundai claims the long-range model delivers over 600 km on the CLTC cycle. That’s roughly equivalent to 450-480 km on the more conservative WLTP standard, or around 280-300 miles EPA — competitive but not exceptional by global standards.

The automaker has been notably tight-lipped on hard specs. There’s no word on motor output, battery capacity, charging speeds, pricing, or a specific launch date. This is a common tactic at Chinese auto shows — reveal the design and key selling points, fill in the spec sheet later when competitors have already shown their hand.

Part of a massive China offensive

The IONIQ V is just the opening move. Hyundai, alongside its local partner BAIC, has invested 8 billion yuan (roughly $1.1 billion) to support a plan to launch over 20 new models in China over the next five years, targeting 500,000 annual sales by 2030.

That’s an ambitious target considering Beijing Hyundai sold just 125,726 units in China in 2025. The automaker has been losing ground in China for years as local brands like BYD, NIO, and Xpeng have taken over the market. Nearly half of all vehicles sold in China in the first half of 2025 were EVs, and most of those came from Chinese brands.

Hyundai has already started its push with the ELEXIO electric SUV and the budget EO SUV priced under $20,000. The company also plans to launch an additional SUV in the first half of 2027, with both BEVs and EREVs (extended-range electric vehicles) in the pipeline — a smart move given how quickly EREVs are gaining traction in China.

As we reported back in 2024, Hyundai has been planning this counterattack for some time, calling China a “must-fight place” and “the core of Hyundai Motor’s global strategy.”

Electrek’s Take

This looks like what the Cybercab could have been if Tesla wanted to make a useful car again. In all seriousness, the IONIQ V is not a bad-looking vehicle — it’s actually one of the more attractive EVs to come out of a Chinese auto show in recent memory. The design is cohesive and the proportions are right.

It’s a production vehicle that retained its concept look.

But let’s be clear about what’s happening here: Hyundai got absolutely crushed in China, and this is the beginning of a rescue mission. Selling 125,000 cars in a market where BYD alone moves millions — that’s not a market position, that’s a rounding error. The 500,000-unit target by 2030 is ambitious, and it will take more than one attractive liftback to get there.

The 600 km CLTC range is fine, but it’s table stakes in China at this point — BYD, NIO, and others are all hitting similar or higher numbers. What’s more interesting is the EREV mention in the broader product plan. That’s where the Chinese market is moving fast, and Hyundai appears to be paying attention.

We’ll reserve full judgment until we see pricing and final specs. In China’s cutthroat EV market, a great design and decent range only get you in the door — the price tag determines whether anyone actually buys it.