With space-saving electric powertrains becoming more common and the prospect of autonomous driving more and more possible, many car manufacturers have been thinking about what a car’s interior might look like in the future. A common idea is to turn it into a living room or house, and that’s why Hyundai and LG Electronics have chosen this Ioniq interior.
The companies specifically emphasize how this interior is made possible by electric powertrains that offer greater packaging flexibility. This is also the reason why it has been branded as an Ioniq interior as Ioniq becomes Hyundai’s EV brand. The interior is spacious and airy, partly thanks to the light colors and large windows. The design is somewhat handy with the wooden floor and mood lighting, but it’s the gadgets that really set it apart.
Immediately clear is the TV in the ceiling. It is a 77-inch flexible OLED screen from LG, and it can change the curve and position for better viewing. This is done through gesture control. The screen can also display two different things for each passenger. The center console houses a single serving coffee machine between the seats, and closer to the floor is a slide-out fridge drawer for drinks and snacks. There are compartments for clothes on either side of the refrigerator. One is for shoes that help dry and freshen them up, and the other is for shirts and pants and the compartment can apparently help remove wrinkles. Finally, when the passengers leave, an automatic sweep panel slides across the floor to remove spills and crumbs, and UV lights come on to disinfect the cabin surfaces.
While the companies have said nothing about autonomy, it is clear that this would make a nice cabin for a self-driving car, as it would provide a lot of entertainment for occupants who don’t have to pay attention to the road. Of course it would also be great for a car with a driver. And the cleaning equipment would make a lot of sense for vehicles used for carpooling or ride-sharing services, as it would help create a fairly pleasant space for the next users or riders.
Hyundai says it will provide “such value-added experiences starting with the Ioniq 5,” referring to the features of this concept interior. We somehow doubt that many of these features will actually be available, except perhaps some sort of cooler or mini-fridge option, especially as the Ioniq 5 will be the brand’s entry-level car based on the Hyundai 45 concept. But Hyundai could prove us wrong. We know for sure when the car will be on the market early next year.
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