Hyundai Unveil New IONIQ 5 Electric Vehicle Featuring Augmented Reality HUD

yundai, has this week unveiled its all new IONIQ 5 electric crossover utility vehicle (CUV) with a targeted driving range of 300 miles, and for the first time in a Hyundai, the IONIQ 5 features a Head-Up Display with augmented reality mode.

The new IONIQ 5 vehicle features 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.

However, the best part of the new vehicle is the inclusion of this AR HUD which transforms the vehicle’s windshield into a display screen. Drivers can choose to use augmented reality technology to display relevant information, such as turn-by-turn navigation, advanced safety and the car’s surroundings nearly 4 feet in front of their line of sight on the road. Hyundai states that this new method of projecting information in its vehicles will enable drivers to process information more quickly, whilst still keeping their attention on the road ahead.

Augmented reality HUDs in vehicles are not a new invention, and Hyundi certainly is not the first company to implement them, however, as more automotive manufacturers begin to  adopt this technology, it will gradually become commonplace in vehicles as radios and sat navs are now. 

Hyundai President and CEO, José Muñoz stated:

“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.”

More and more vehicles are being packed with advanced technology and it appears manufacturers are taking steps in a direction which can see vehicles being transformed into an entertainment hub for passengers as they are driven. A recent example of this came from automotive XR startup holoride, who announced the company had secured €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.