Back in 2021, Hyundai swept the EV segment off its feet with the Ioniq 5, a compact crossover disguised as a big hatchback. And in 2022, this was followed by the Ioniq 6, an EV sedan that made its North American debut during last week’s LA Auto Show. The Ioniq 6 won’t go on sale in the US until the first months of 2023, but the digital community is already giving the sloping roof line, four-door machine wings. There’s no Red Bull here—we mean that in a literal sense, so welcome to Hyundai Ioniq 6 Pikes Peak race car, an independent rendering that may be closer to reality than one would imagine.
This 3D work, which comes from Korean artist Brian Kim (aka briankimworks_korea) is especially interesting since Hyundai is developing a motorsport version of the Ioniq 6. And while details are still scarce at this point, the fact that Hyundai has history at Pikes Peak and this annual Colorado hill climb event is important in America (and all over the world) means we wouldn’t be surprised to see a real-life effort like the one portrayed here.
To be more precise, the South Korean automaker has already developed the Ioniq 6 into the RN22e functional concept showcased back in August. Created by Hyundai N, the company’s motorsport and hot street vehicle arm, the RN22e previews an upcoming Ioniq 6 go-fast version for the road. However, the RN22e is also a test bed for bits and pieces that Hyundai will use in the racing version of the Ioniq 6, which is set to compete in the eTouring Car World Cup series starting in 2023.
As for the South Korean automaker’s Pikes Peak International Hillclimb was an important goal a decade ago. For one, back in 2012 when the “race to the clouds” ran on a fully paved course for the first time, the overall record was grabbed by Rhys Millen behind the wheel of a Hyundai RMR Genesis Coupe (his father, the legendary Rod Millen, still does the climb in his “old” Toyota). The machine was part of a series of tube-frame prototype racers the automaker was developing at the time, so this was an important effort for Hyundai.
The Pikes Peak Hyundai Ioniq 6 has all the downforce in the world
Returning to the CGI work, the artist also delivered a quick animation showcasing the transition from the Hyundai Ioniq 6 showroom version to the caged downforce monster that is this Pikes Peak racer.
Nowadays, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb takes participants on a 12.42-mile course. We’re looking at 156 turns that see racers going from the 9,390 feet-high starting line to the 14,115-foot summit of the mountain.
For 2022, which marked the 100th edition of the race, the fastest EV was a modded Tesla Model 3 manhandled by Japanese drifting champion Daijiro Yoshihara, so perhaps Hyundai may want to challenge that.
