The Hyundai Ioniq 9 has barely been obtainable available on the market for 3 months, and the automaker is already engaged on new strategies to spice up it. Our spy photographers caught this occasion of {the electrical} crossover in some gentle camouflage carrying the bodywork and wheels of the S model, though with further aggressive tires. Supplied that matches the Hyundai XRT system, it’s farly clear that the company will provide a second ruggedized EV, giving the Ioniq 5 XRT an Ioniq 9 bigger sibling.
Very Minor Exterior Alterations
The Hyundai Ioniq 9 XRT, which can probably arrive in time for the 2026 model yr, seems much like completely different trims throughout the lineup – a minimum of insofar as these spy photos are concerned. Clearly seen by means of the minimal camouflage and the Snow White Pearl foremost physique color is {the electrical} crossover’s break up rocker panel cladding, with a gloss black insert between the strips of matte-sheen plastic – this insert is body-color on completely different Ioniq 9 fashions. Moreover distinctive to this spy-shotted machine is a black entrance fascia, and although it is not clear if that is part of the XRT or solely a test-vehicle mismatch, it seems to be like it could very nicely be the earlier given the ruggedized Ioniq 5 has black-finished entrance and rear bumpers regardless of exterior color.
The one completely different seen alteration of discover is the set of Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires wrapped spherical 19-inch alloy wheels taken from an S trim. We rely on Hyundai to go well with the forthcoming Ioniq 9 XRT with its private devoted wheel design, as a result of it has executed with the adventure-focused trim on the Tucson, Palisade, Santa Cruz, and Santa Fe.
Sensible Changes Appear Slim
That talked about, this Ioniq 9 trim wouldn’t seem to have many substantive mechanical enhancements to help it type out the surface. Whereas the midsize, gas-powered Santa Fe XRT has 1.3 inches of further flooring clearance and a retuned all-wheel-drive system to take care of it transferring in robust terrain, the Ioniq 9 seen proper right here seems to expertise on an unchanged suspension setup. The prototype’s tires moreover don’t appear upsized the least bit from the S trim’s 255/60R19 rubber, which implies it should have the similar 6.9 inches of flooring clearance as completely different three-row Hyundai EVs. If that’s the case, even the smaller Ioniq 5 XRT might have extra room beneath the automotive; it rings in at 7.0 inches of flooring clearance.
We hope Hyundai will uncover a bit bit further performance from a potential Ioniq 9 XRT, perhaps giving it a healthful ride-height improve to 7.5 inches or so and turning into it with entrance and rear bumpers which have bigger technique and departure angles. It would even be good to see some further plastic cladding to fend off minor path scuffs. On the very least, we hope we’re in a position to depend on regular twin motors, which throughout the Ioniq 9 are good for 303 horsepower on the SE and SEL trims or 422 hp on the Restricted and Calligraphy – we wager the XRT will get the entry-level powertrain for less complicated throttle modulation and better fluctuate. We should at all times know further sooner than the highest of the yr; given Hyundai’s swift EV product cadence, we’re sure the company wishes to flesh out its lineup as loads as attainable.