Hyundai Ioniq 5 refresh details – OTA updates, bigger battery, and a rear wiper!
Hyundai has updated its Korean website with details about the expected refresh of its popular Ioniq 5 EV, with only minor changes from the original design but a lot of new features on the inside.
We’ve been expecting a refresh to the Hyundai Ioniq 5, and an apparent facelift was spotted testing last year, complete with your standard ugly automaker camouflage covering up the doors and bumpers.
Now the veil has been lifted on the refresh and… it looks pretty similar. But the refresh comes with a lot of new features, in particular some fixes for a lot of the various shortcomings of an otherwise excellent car.
The details are all available on Hyundai’s website, but it’s in Korean only. The American website has not yet been updated with the new details, and everything we talk about here is on the Korean version, and may or may not make it to the US version. We can imagine a lot of these changes will be carried over, but there may be some differences in what’s available in each market.
Exterior changes include new colors, some changes around the front fascia including more “pixel” motif details and an exterior charge status indicator, and a slightly larger rear spoiler above the rear window. The changes to the bumpers mean the car is now 20mm (.8 inches) longer than the previous model.
The Korean version of the car is also getting some changes to the “digital side mirrors,” which are digital cameras in place of the side view mirrors, which are not available in the US.
There are additional exterior changes for the upgraded “N line” version, in particular different bumpers, body-color trim on the wheel arches and door panels, 20-inch wheels and N line badging.
User experience has been improved with access to Hyundai’s “Digital Key 2” which lets you use your phone or Apple Watch to lock and unlock the vehicle. Ioniq 5 also has walk-away door locks (though these might only function with the key fob, not the digital key?)
And of course the largest change on the exterior is the addition of a rear window wiper. This was a big oversight on the original vehicle, which lots of owners and potential buyers lamented the absence of. The refresh gets a wiper on the rear, so you won’t have to worry about your rear window getting grimy anymore.
But the real changes come inside the car, with the biggest change being the addition of about 7kWh of battery, bringing the car up to 84kWh of capacity (from 77.4kWh). The Ioniq 5 was previously rated at 458km (285mi) range in Korea, and the battery increase bumps that rating to 485km (301mi).
We don’t have EPA range numbers available yet or know if Hyundai will hold back some of this capacity, but we can imagine this change will increase EPA range from its current 270mi to somewhere in the mid-high 280s.
Despite the larger battery, Hyundai says the Ioniq 5 has had a slight improvement in charge performance and therefore will still charge from 10-80% in 18 minutes, maintaining what is basically the best fast charging performance available right now.
Other mechanical changes include improved sound and vibration dampening, which should make for a smoother ride and less motor and road noise.
On the interior, a number of new features have been added. The steering wheel has been redesigned with 4 “pixel” lights in the center which are used as charge indicators or indicators for the voice recognition system – and also has something called “hands on detection,” which we presume is some sort of driver alertness feature.
The sliding center console is slightly redesigned, with the addition of USB-C ports, relocation of the smartphone charging pad, and physical buttons for some frequently used car features like the seat heater/ventilator.
And for other interior functional changes, a button has been added in the trunk to fold the rear seats down, making it easier to load large things into the car from the rear. And the glove compartment has been redesigned – it used to be “drawer-like” and now it folds down like a typical glove compartment, a change which may come begrudgingly for some.
But perhaps the biggest interior change isn’t visible, it’s in software. The Ioniq 5 is getting access to Hyundai’s “Connected Car Navigation Cockpit” software along with… over-the-air updates!
This is a new feature for Ioniq 5, though it is already present on the Ioniq 6 sedan. The updates won’t just be for critical safety/recall related updates, but for software enhancements as well.
Finally, all of this has resulted in no change in price in Korea, with the same base price of 52,400,000 Korean Won (~$39,400). So we can hope that the US base price, currently $41,800, will stay the same or close to the same when this update comes through.
As for availability, that’s anyone’s guess. We’ll have to wait for an answer from Hyundai on that one.
Electrek’s Take
The Ioniq 5 has quickly become a favorite in the EV community. It’s a really solid vehicle with great specs, a good price (especially if you lease it for access to US tax credits, which Hyundai has been putting a lot of focus into), and generally happy customers.
Personally, I think it’s one of the best-looking cars on the road today. Despite being a small-car guy myself, it’s about the only SUV that I really like – mostly because it’s still compact, and also because the design language of the car is so solid and consistent. It looks just quirky enough to be different, without being too out there.
As a result, it’s also selling extremely well, even in the US despite being from a foreign automaker which results in tax credit disadvantages. In 2023 it was the best-selling foreign-assembled EV in the US (the VW ID.4 did sell better, and is from a foreign automaker, but it’s assembled in Tennessee).
But these changes were also needed. The lack of rear wiper in particular was a glaring oversight, and OTA updates are such an important feature that has taken far too long to percolate to the rest of the industry. An early-model Tesla Model 3 is better today than is was in 2017, which is not a thing you can say about most cars, and hopefully the Ioniq 5 has joined those ranks due to the addition of OTA update capability.
So we hope most of these changes make their way to the US, and soon, because this is already a great car and these small fixes will just make it that much greater.
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Environment
Former Tesla, Lucid execs form new EV brand Longbow, whose first two models are sharp and ultra-light
A new niche EV brand, Longbow, has emerged into the public eye, hailing itself as ” the first-ever British electric sports car manufacturer. ” It has unveiled its first two featherweight models, inspired by British automotive icons and designed with real-road performance and the overall driver experience in mind. Despite debuting today, the limited hand-built production of these two featherweight EVs is expected to begin relatively quickly, and they start at a price that doesn’t just cater to the affluent.
You’re not alone if you haven’t heard of Longbow until today. The young brand was founded as recently as 2023 by Daniel Davey, Jenny Keisu, and Mark Tapscott – three industry veterans with a combined resume that cannot be ignored. Davey and Tapscott worked at Tesla during the development of the original Roadster, followed by senior positions at both Lucid Motors and BYD. Keisu brings experience and leadership from the electrified marine segment as she was formerly the CEO of X Shore – an electric boat developer no stranger to the Electrek homepage.
Although Longbow was only founded two years ago, its trio of founders say the EV brand is the realization of many more years of planning and preparation. They have since expanded their team to include an arsenal of engineers with backgrounds in road and motorsport, including former employees at Aston Martin, Formula E, Lotus, and Tesla.
The Longbow team has tasked itself with delivering world-class BEVs that are “spiritual successors” to the icons of British automotive, such as the Lotus Elise and Jaguar E-Type, reimagined for the modern world with bespoke EV platform technology and supreme dynamics. Their take on this legacy is a lineup of sleek vehicles designed, engineered, and built in the UK as Featherweight Electric Vehicles (FEVs).
The young company hit a milestone today, unveiling its first two EV models – the Longbow Speedster and the Roadster; check them out.
Longbow’s first two EVs set to arrive in 2026 under $93k
Per a press release from Longbow, this is the first look at its first two featherweight EVs, which include a Speedster convertible and a Roadster. As FEVs, both models will weigh under 995 kg (2,193 lbs) and achieve the automaker’s motto, “Celeritas Levitas,” or “the speed of lightness.” Per the company:
Development of the Longbow Speedster and Roadster has pursued a singular philosophy: simplify, focus on beauty and engagement, then relentlessly add lightness, until all that remains is sheer automotive intoxication. Antithetical to conventional notions of what a battery electric vehicle (BEV) can be, Speedster and Roadster are striking, light, nimble, balanced, and engineered for an unparalleled driving experience.
The Speedster and Roadster sit atop an aluminum chassis designed for maximum stiffness while offering as little necessary weight as possible. The EV frame is complimented by lighter and more compact motors and batteries (something Lucid Motors is constantly celebrated for). These design elements combine to deliver what Longbow calls “the world’s first ‘proper’ all-electric sportscar for the modern enthusiast.”
The open-topped Speedster weighs 895 kg (1,973 lbs) and can accelerate from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.6 seconds. It has a WLTP range of 275 miles. Longbow shared that the closed cockpit Roadster EV will follow the Speedster, weighing 995 kg while achieving the same 0-100k m/h time. It has a WLTP range of 280 km (174 miles)
As mentioned above, both models will be hand-built in the UK and are expected to hit the market in 2026. The Speedster will start at a price of ₤84,995 ($92,600), including VAT, and only 150 examples will be built. That build schedule will include 10 Luminary First Edition and 25 Autograph Edition models.
The Roadster’s starting price is ₤64,995 ($70,850), including VAT. It will include 50 Luminary 1st Edition models or 100 Autograph Editions. Reservations for both Longbow EVs are available now.
What do we think? Will these FEVs actually get made? Or is this another startup with cool designs that will run out of money before it scales? I hope it’s the former!
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Environment
Tesla Takedown movement fights back against Musk/Trump after push to label them as ‘domestic terrorists’
The Tesla Takedown movement is fighting back against claims made by Elon Musk and Donald Trump while protests are ramping up.
Earlier this week, Tesla CEO Elon Musk falsely accused the movement of Tesla protests to be financed by the Democratic Party’s ActBlue PAC, and President Trump tried to tie the protests with vandalism against Tesla vehicles and stores.
Trump went as far as claiming that “violence against Tesla dealership will be labeled as domestic terrorism.”
The Tesla Takedown movement has issued a statement in response to make it clear that they are against violence and destruction of property:
We are a nonviolent grassroots protest movement. We oppose violence and destruction of property. Peaceful protest on public property is not domestic terrorism. They are trying to intimidate us. We will not let them succeed.
Their intention is to continue peaceful protests and they are in no way associated with the destruction of property – nor is there any evidence that they have been.
Tesla Takedown account on BlueSky added:
“We will not be bullied or allow our rights to be trampled on or stolen. If you’re ready to show Donald Trump and Elon Musk that there are no kings in America, join a Tesla Takedown protest in your community this weekend.”
Several more protests are now being organized for the next few days and into the weekends.
There are currently dozens of protests planned at Tesla stores and charging stations in the US, Canada, and Europe in the coming days.
Electrek’s Take
This is a slippery slope. I certainly condemn the destruction of the property of Tesla owners or vehicles and locations owned by Tesla.
It’s dangerous, and it doesn’t help the Tesla Takedown cause, but it seems to be a stretch to label that “domestic terrorism.”
As far as I can tell, the movement has never called for it. They have only called for peaceful protests, and they shouldn’t be associated with actions taken by extremists.
People have reasons to be mad at Musk and Trump, who are targeting social security, calling government officials “traitors” for supporting Ukraine, and alienating entire nations with senseless trade wars.
If they attack things they care about, is it unfair for them to attack things Elon cares about?
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It’s finally here. Toyota unveiled its newest EV, the C-HR+, a surprisingly stylish electric SUV. The smaller SUV will sit below the bZ4X and offer more range, a sleek new look, and faster charging. With an expected lower price tag, the Toyota C-HR+ could just be the affordable electric SUV we’ve been waiting for.
Toyota unveils the new C-HR+ as an EV
Remember Toyota’s compact C-HR? It’s back and better than ever. Toyota discontinued it in the US in 2022, replacing it with the more efficient Corolla Cross hybrid and first electric SUV, the bZ4X.
Toyota is reviving the name as it revamps its EV lineup. At its annual product strategy event last week, Toyota showcased an array of new EVs that are coming soon, including the new C-HR+.
The electric C-HR already looks like a massive upgrade over the discontinued gas model. Its clean, modern look is similar to Toyota’s other updated vehicles, such as the Corolla, Crown, and Prius. It will be available in both front and all-wheel drive configurations.
With two battery options, 57.7 kWh and 77 kWh, the C-HR+ EV has a WLTP driving range of up to 372 miles (600 km).
Outside of its GR performance models, the AWD version will be Toyota’s most powerful vehicle in Europe. With up to 343 horsepower (252 kW), it can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 5.2 seconds.
The FWD model with the 57.7 kWh battery packs 167 horsepower (123 kW) while the larger 77 kWh battery delivers 224 horsepower (165 kW).
Inside, Toyota claims its new electric SUV is a “class above” with an extended wheelbase providing an open, welcoming feel. The C-HR+ features a standard 14″ infotainment with dedicated EV routing.
Toyota loaded it with its latest connectivity and safety tech, including Toyota Safety Sense active safety and driver assistance systems.
Safety features like a Blind Spot Monitor, Adaptive High-Beam headlights, and a Parking Support Brake are now standard. Higher trims gain Park Assist and a Panoramic View Monitor.
Although official specs will be revealed closer to launch, Toyota said the electric SUV can achieve DC fast charging speeds of up to 150 kW. The company finally added a battery preconditioning feature for better performance.
At 4,520 mm (178″) long, the C-HR+ EV version is slightly longer than the previous gas model. It’s also a bit shorter than the Toyota RAV4.
Toyota will launch the electric SUV later this year in select European markets, with a full rollout in Europe scheduled for 2026. For those in the US, we’ll have to wait for the official word, but if it does arrive, which would likely be in 2026, the C-HR+ would sit below the bZ4X.
With the 2025 bZ4X starting at $37,070, we could see Toyota’s smaller electric SUV start in the $30,000 range. At that, it could be a true competitor in the US.
How do you feel about Toyota’s new electric SUV? Would you buy one in the US for around $30,000 to $35,000?
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