Hyundai unveiled the SEVEN Concept at the LA Auto Show. The “sport utility electric vehicle,” or SUEV, previews the production Ioniq 7 mid-size SUV and seeks to invite passengers into electric mobility with a lounge-like and futuristic interior. Based on the company’s Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the suave SUEV features an electric powertrain. Hyundai is targeting a range of more than 483 km and 350-kW charging, which should allow it to get from 10-80 percent charge in just 20 minutes.
The SEVEN is more about what’s inside than
what’s underneath. The wheels are pushed as far to the extremities as possible,
offering a 3.2-meter wheelbase and as much interior volume and
comfort as possible. In order to achieve a lounge-like experience, traditional
rows of seats have been thrown out in favor of a sectional couch and swiveling
seats.
Meanwhile, a “Universal Island” console is
specially designed to feature home appliances like a mini-fridge and a
shoe-care compartment for footwear. The roof features a panoramic OLED screen
that displays content and can change the overall atmosphere of the interior.
The driver’s seat can also swivel and features retractable controls that hide
away when not in use. That won’t just be when you’re parked, because Hyundai
envisions the SEVEN as an autonomous vehicle.
That has allowed the company to make the
cockpit slim and compact, which makes more room for screens to create an even
more lounge-like experience. And to introduce you to it all in a suitably grand
fashion, the coach doors are pillarless, offering unobtrusive access to the
cabin.
The SEVEN is also adorned in ecologically-sound
materials like the bio-paint applied to the exterior. Inside, meanwhile,
there’s mineral plaster, bamboo wood and carpets, and bio-resin, while just
about everything else are made of either recycled or renewable materials. The
team also used copper extensively throughout the interior and wove it into the
fabrics for its antibacterial properties. A hygiene Airflow System takes air
through the roof rails and out of the cabin via vents behind the rear wheels.
The interior can also be UVC sanitized once the passengers exit the vehicle.
The exterior was designed to feature an
aerodynamically pure silhouette that differs from your standard SUV. The low
leading edge of the hood and the single, streamlined roofline are a break from
the familiar two-box design. The Ioniq brand‘s signature Parametric Pixel
lights, meanwhile, help make the SEVEN easy to identify. With a welcome light
sequence on start-up, Hyundai calls it a reminder that its designers have
considered every aspect of the SUV, right “down to a single pixel.”
As mentioned above, while the SEVEN is
just a concept, it previews the Ioniq 7 mid-size electric SUV that’s expected
to arrive in 2024, although the futuristic elements will be toned down for
production.