HYUNDAI CONCEPT THREE PREVIEWS RADICAL HATCH

Eye-catching EV concept to make production as a five-door family hatchback

- MARK TISSHAW

The Hyundai Concept Three previews a new compact electric hatchback that will go into production next year.

A star of the Munich motor show, the Concept Three will spawn a model expected to be called Ioniq 3 in production, although the Ioniq 2 and Ioniq 4 names also remain possible, execs told Autocar. The five-door hatchback will be manufactured in Europe and is likely to become the brand's bestselling electric car here.

Hyundai Design Centre boss Simon Loasby said while the show car is conceptual in many of the details, its overall proportions, shape and surfacing are true to the production car which had, in fact, been designed ahead of the Concept Three.

The concept is a similar length to the Volkswagen Golf, at 4288mm. Far from being a conventional hatchback, however, it is what Hyundai calls an 'aero hatch', with a more rakish body and a sculpted rear hatch and spoiler that optimises airflow for low drag and efficiency.