2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6, latest sighting.

Hyundai was spotted testing a prototype of the Ioniq 6 electric sedan.

The prototype is heavily camouflaged but appears to wear a new front end design. The biggest hint is the headlights, which feature a new shape and are lower than the current model.

The rear mask also appears to have been changed, with wider reflectors. The prototype's wheel pattern is also a new design.

More significant changes will likely come in the form of an 84 kwh battery replacing the 77.4 kwh unit that serves as the largest battery in the current Ioniq 6. This would reflect the changes made to the updated versions of the related Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5; the EPA's current best estimate of the Ioniq 6's range is 361 miles, and a larger battery should yield a higher figure.

A high-performance model, the Ioniq 6 N, is also expected to join the lineup, and a prototype of this model has been spotted; the hot versions of the EV6 and Ioniq 5 have maximum outputs of 576 hp and 641 hp, respectively, and something similar is planned for the Ioniq 6 N. It is possible that the same may be planned for the Ioniq 6 N.

The Ioniq 6 was introduced for the 2023 model year, but despite its avant-garde styling, it failed to excite the market. Hyundai sold 6,912 vehicles in the U.S. during the first half of the year. This low number is likely due to the sedan, a body style that is not popular among EV buyers. The Ioniq 5 crossover, on the other hand, sold 18,728 units during the same period.

Look for the improved Ioniq 6 to debut next year. In the US, it should appear in the 2026 model year.