2021 Hyundai 45 EV: What It’ll Look Like, Powetrain & Everything Else We Know

While already offering the battery-electric Ioniq, Kona and fuel cell-electric Nexo; Hyundai is amping up its EV onslaught even further with its upcoming 45 crossover-ish hatch. It’ll be the Korean automaker’s first vehicle to utilize an all-new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), and follows the tone set by the 45 Concept which debuted at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Will the production version differ vastly from its conceptual forbearer? Let’s take an illustrated first look at what we can expect from one of Hyundai’s most interesting new projects and its first standalone electric model.

Illustrations Copyright Carscoops.com / Josh Byrnes

Kinetic Appearances

There’s a hint of Audi A1 in its profile; however, upon looking closer, there’s clear lineage with the aforementioned 45 show-car with its crisp lines and angular diamond-shaped surfacing. The production variant ditches the concept’s sliding front and rear doors that opened a wide, uninterrupted opening for a more conventional 5-door arrangement and loses the camera-based side mirror system.

Frontal styling follows what Hyundai calls “kinetic cube lamp” design, taking elements from the original Pony Coupe concept. Being an EV, you won’t spot any large grille openings, but rather subtle trim inlays and a clamshell hood (or could that be a frunk?).

2021 Hyundai 45 EV: What It’ll Look Like, Powetrain & Everything Else We Know

1974 Hyundai Pony Coupé Concept

Casting your eye along the side reveals pop-out door handles, short overhangs, a low-slung silhouette and ground clearance which is lower than a typical crossover. Following on from the latest Elantra sedan, the doors feature ‘Z-shaped’ diamond pressings and the glasshouse benefits from steeply-raked A & B-pillars and a two-tone roof effect. Rear styling mimics the front with cube-like LED tail lamps and a scalloped lower bumper.

Room To Move

While the interiors in the Ionic and Kona EV’s are spatially conventional due to having ICE powertrain options, the 45 will have a spacious interior layout aided by a skateboard-style floor. The 45 sports a dashboard with a large MBUX-like digital screen combining both the instrument cluster and infotainment system. Elsewhere, expect a warm and inviting mix of fabric, synthetic leathers and minimalist detailing.

Other goodies we can expect are ambient lighting, heated and ventilated front seats, wireless charging & Apple CarPlay, WiFi connectivity, and a surround-view monitor. Driver-assist technology will feature heavily too; including autonomous emergency braking, rear cross-traffic assist, lane-keeping aid, safe exit assist and rear occupant alert.

Dual Motor Performance

Similar to the Tesla Model 3, expect a dual-motor setup with a motor on each axle enabling all-wheel-drive capability. Conjecture suggests it’ll use a version of the EV system that powers the Kona Electric, albeit with a range of up to 500 km (310 miles) – exceeding that of the Kona’s 258 miles.

2019 Hyundai 45 EV Concept

Batteries reportedly will be supplied by SK Innovation, with an unspecified battery pack tipped to slot in the 75-100 kWh bracket. We anticipate it’ll offer up to 350 kW DC charging capability through the Ionity network of fast chargers also used by BMW, Daimler, Ford, Volkswagen Group and Porsche.

When will it go on sale?

Intriguingly, it would appear the Hyundai 45 may step on the toes of the Kona Electric – can the two co-exist side by side? That remains to be seen but poses an interesting dilemma for the South Korean carmaker. The Hyundai 45 will join a growing subset of stand-alone electric models from a wide array of automakers, including Tesla’s Model Y, Ford’s Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen’s ID.4, and Skoda’s Enyaq.

Hyundai’s latest EV is tipped to debut later this year and hit dealerships across the world by early 2021.

Would you consider the 45 over its electrified compact-sized competition? Tell us in the comments below.