May 26, 2021 – Hyundai Motor North America (Hyundai) has this week announced its all-new IONIQ 5 electric crossover utility vehicle (CUV) with a targeted driving range of 300 miles. Plus, for the first time in a Hyundai, the IONIQ 5 features a Head-Up Display (HUD) with augmented reality (AR) mode.
The inclusion of this AR HUD essentially turns the vehicle’s windshield into a display screen. Drivers can choose to use AR technology to project relevant information, such as turn-by-turn navigation, advanced safety and the car’s surroundings nearly 4 feet (44 inches) in front of their line of sight on the road. According to Hyundai, this new way of displaying information in its vehicles will allow drivers to process information more quickly, whilst still keeping their attention on the road ahead.
Of course, augmented reality is what we like to focus on, but for the car people, the vehicle does come with a tonne of other bells and whistles, such as ultra-fast charging from 10 to 80 percent in just 18 minutes, a variety of different battery and motor layouts that will offer travel ranges from 244 to 300 miles, with all configurations having a top speed of 115 MPH and the ability to tow a trailer with a capacity of up to 1,500 lbs. Additionally, the IONIQ 5 rides on Hyundai’s exclusive Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), which allows for more interior space and optimized performance, according to the company.
This theme of having more space in vehicles and packing them full of advanced technology is becoming more common in the automotive sector, and it seems that manufacturers are continuing to take steps in a direction that could see the average vehicle transformed into more of an entertainment hub for passengers as they are transported from A to B. One example of this industry trend includes earlier this year where automotive XR startup holoride, which is aiming to “turn vehicles into moving theme parks”, announced it had secured EUR €10 million in Series A funding to expand its automotive technology offering. Holoride’s platform creates immersive experiences for passengers by combining navigational and car data with XR (short for ‘extended reality’ – a collective term for augmented, virtual, and mixed realities).
AR HUDs in vehicles are nothing new and Hyundai certainly isn’t the first company to implement something like this, but as more car makers adopt this method of displaying information to drivers, then it is pretty clear that XR technology is going to become as commonplace in our vehicles as radio, bluetooth and cup holders.
Commenting on the announcement, José Muñoz, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor America, said: “IONIQ 5 introduces the Hyundai brand to a whole new set of buyers. Once behind the steering wheel, they are going to be shocked by the range, power, comfort, interior space and advanced technology. Owning one is going to be a new experience and lifestyle that only the IONIQ brand can provide.”
Hyundai stated that the IONIQ 5 is part of Hyundai Motor Group’s plan to introduce 23 BEV (battery electric vehicle) models and sell 1 million BEV units worldwide by 2025. The vehicle goes on sale this fall with a pre-reservation program for early purchasers that offers special benefits.
For more information on Hyundai and its IONIQ 5, please visit the company’s website.
Image / video credit: Hyundai / YouTube – crospotter13
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About the author
Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.