6 DEGREES OF SEPARATION

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is proof that aerodynamically honed electric cars can be interesting to look at. But can this new executive EV rub shoulders with priceless collector classics? Felix Page finds out

- Felix Page

A marshal storms over and raps his knuckles against the window, unflappably stern despite my best attempt at seeming cheerily oblivious to our error.

"Why is this car here?" he demands, gesticulating at the growing line of guests waiting for me to move so they can negotiate the tight entrance to one of Lake Como's most famous hotels. Should I tell him my mission is to find out how the Ioniq 6 fits in among the automotive icons that regularly take to the roads here? 

Instead, I just say: "Sorry, my mistake. I thought this was a different venue."

His eyes roll back so far in his head that he can probably see Switzerland, and he nods to the two photographers I've brought with me to capture some artful angles of my Hyundai as they dance wildly around a painfully rare Ferrari 365 GT4 BB (strikingly finished in a bespoke shade of Verde Germoglio).

"And them...?," he asks sarcastically. I've got nothing else to offer, and the horns have started blaring.

"You need to go. Now." He bangs his hand conclusively on the roof and waves me forward.

"But my guys!" I cry, helplessly.

"Your guys can walk," he spits back.

And so they do. Or rather they jog, because I don't really feel like hanging around now and accelerate quickly back to the bottom of the driveway to wait, only to be confronted with another crowd standing in my path - although this one consists largely of excitable young car fanatics who are distracted momentarily from the endless procession of priceless supercars by our gleaming, space-age EV long enough to swivel their SLRs in my direction and grab some snaps 'for the 'Gram'.