Hyundai Ioniq 5 Caught Under Heavy Disguise: Is This A Facelift Or A New Trim?

Jul 11, 2023

The prototype appears to hide mild visual updates on the front and rear bumpers

The Ioniq 5 just got the hot N variant but it seems that Hyundai is working on something new based on the electric crossover. A prototype of the Ioniq 5 was spotted testing on public roads wearing heavy camouflage, suggesting that we might be looking at a facelifted version or a new trim.

The electric prototype features relocated parking sensors and a larger lower intake at the mostly covered front bumper. The LED headlights look identical to the current model, as with the rest of the bodywork with the exception of the rear bumper. This one appears to have a revised lower fascia shaped like a diffuser. Of course, if this is indeed a facelift, more redesigned components could be added later in the development. Interestingly, the interior of the prototype was also covered hinting at possible upgrades on trim and technology.

More: How Hyundai Went From Bland To Bold In Less Than 15 Years

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is already 2.5 years old, as it was originally introduced in February 2021. This means that a facelift could arrive in 2025, updating the looks and technology of the EV in order to stay fresh against the competition. Another possibility would be a new N Line trim slotting between the standard model and the full-blown N in terms of visual sportiness. At the moment, Hyundai reserves the N Line treatment for its ICE-powered range but it could follow the example of Kia which offers the similar GT Line trim for its EVs.

The current Ioniq 5 is available with either a 58 kWh or a 77.4 kWh battery pack, in single motor RWD or dual motor AWD guises producing between 168 hp (125 kW / 170 PS) and 321 hp (239 kW / 325 PS) depending on the configuration. Then there is the flagship Ioniq 5 N with a larger 84 kWh battery and a combined output of 641 hp (478 kW / 650 PS). Those specs aren’t expected to change much in a possible mid-lifecycle update.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 was the first model to ride on the now widely-used E-GMP architecture. The company recently announced the next-generation Integrated Modular Architecture (IMA) that will underpin 13 new Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis EVs through 2030, likely including the successor of the Ioniq 5 when it arrives towards the end of the decade.

Stay tuned to find out Hyundai’s plans for the Ioniq 5, as we are hoping for the next round of spy shots to be more revealing.