HYUNDAI IONIQ5 BECOMES THE 2022 WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR

The prestigious 2022 World Car Awards have been announced at the ongoing New York International Auto show (NYIAS) and it’s no surprise that almost all categories have been won by electric cars. The big winner of the night was the Hyundai Ioniq 5, with the all-electric crossover named overall World Car of the Year, World Electric Vehicle of the Year and World Car Design of the Year. World Car Awards revealed the results at a ceremony held at the Auto Show. German luxury car brands Audi and Mercedes were also amongst the winners while Toyota also ended up winning an award. The winners were recognized by a jury of 102 automotive journalists from 33 countries around the world.

Audi e-tron GT.Ioniq 5.

The annual World Car Awards recognize the best design, luxury car, performance car, urban car, EV and the best car of the year. In February, the jury named Luc Donckerwolke, Hyundai Motor Group’s Chief Creative Officer, the 2022 World Car Person of the Year for his significant contribution overseeing new model developments, including IONIQ 5.

One of the most keenly contested categories at the World car awards is the Performance car of the year and here the Audi e-tron GT came out on tops. Even more impressive was the fact that it was the only electric car in fray and beat a slew of petrol-powered sports cars to win the coveted award. Then came the Luxury car of the car award and this category was once again won by an electric model – the Mercedes-Benz EQS. The green counterpart of the S-Class sedan beat the likes of BMW iX and Genesis GV70 to win the award. Finally, the category of the world urban car was won by Toyota Yaris cross which beat the Made in India Volkswagen Taigun amongst other cars to win the award.

IONIQ 5 is the first model in Hyundai’s dedicated BEV line-up brand: IONIQ. It is built on the company’s new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) architecture and offers 800-V, ultra-fast charging for a 10 to 80 percent charge in just 18 minutes. The axles can be pushed right to the front and back of the car, providing much more space than a traditional vehicle. With a 2-wheel drive (2WD) system and up to 77.4-kWh battery, its maximum driving range on a single charge is up to 480 km, according to the WLTP standard. Features include Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology, advanced connectivity and driver assistance systems.

IONIQ 5 is defined by what the brand’s designers call ‘Parametric Dynamics’ with kinetic jewel-like surface details defining the car’s visual identity. The crossover’s exterior styling is characterized by clean, sharp lines that convey its dynamic presence on the road and distinctive ‘Parametric Pixel’ LED headlamps and rear lamps. Inside, IONIQ 5’s ‘Living Space’ interior theme gets a moveable centre console that allows passengers more freedom of movement. Many interior touchpoints use eco-friendly materials and textiles, such as eco-processed leather, sustainable fibres and bio paint, that reflect consumers’ rising interest in ethical, sustainable products.

For World Car of the Year, the jury selected IONIQ 5 from an initial entry list of 28 vehicles, then from 3 finalists. To be eligible for the category, vehicles must be produced in at least 10,000 units per year, priced below the luxury level in their primary markets, and on sale in at least two major markets on at least two continents at some time between Jan. 1, 2021 – Mar. 30, 2022. For World Electric Vehicle of the Year, the jury selected IONIQ 5 from an initial entry list of 11 vehicles, then from 3 finalists. To be eligible for the category, vehicles must be powered solely by one or more electric motors, produced in volumes of at least 5,000 units per year and on sale in at least two major markets on at least two continents at some time between Jan. 1, 2021 – Mar. 30, 2022.