2025.02.18 Hyundai Motor Company
Always Cozy, Always Striking: The Design Philosophy Behind IONIQ 9’s Interior and Colors
The IONIQ 9 exudes a fresh yet familiar coziness, paired with rich and striking color and material selections. The design inspiration behind the interior, colors, and materials of Hyundai three-row electric SUV is explored here.
Hyundai's groundbreaking full-size electric SUV, the IONIQ 9, has finally debuted. As the first-ever three-row SUV from the IONIQ brand, the teasers alone had global customers buzzing with anticipation. Unveiled in November, 2024 at Los Angeles’ Goldstein House, the IONIQ 9 captivated the world with its aerodynamic aesthetics, commanding presence, lounge-like interior, and outstanding electric performance.
While the revolutionary exterior design immediately draws attention, the real connection happens within the cabin. Stepping inside the IONIQ 9 reveals a vast, harmonious space that feels more like a luxurious lounge. Unique colors and innovative materials further set it apart, reinforcing the distinctive identity of the IONIQ brand.
To uncover how Hyundai crafted this masterpiece, senior designer Sung-jun Kim from Hyundai's Interior Design Team 2, and senior designer Jung-in Hong from the CMF team shared insights into the inspirations and innovations behind IONIQ 9’s interior, colors, and materials.
The Natural Lounge: Designed for Everyone
Q: What is the interior design concept for the IONIQ 9, and what were the primary considerations during development?
senior designer Sung-jun Kim | Before diving into the design, we asked ourselves, “What kind of interior best suits the IONIQ 9?” The answer, after much deliberation, was a space as comfortable and inviting as home. For IONIQ 9’s target customers, the spacious interior, EV-exclusive quietness, and convenience are highly valued. With that in mind, we centered the interior design concept around creating a cozy and natural space—what we call the ‘Natural Lounge.’
To bring the Natural Lounge to life, we focused on three design keywords: Natural, Smooth, and Spacious. We aimed to create a warm, minimalistic space that emphasizes openness for all passengers. It wasn’t just about ornamental design but about crafting a functional environment where passengers can interact effortlessly with the space, much like personalizing their home.
Q: How did the SEVEN concept car influence IONIQ 9’s production interior?
senior designer Sung-jun Kim | The SEVEN, unveiled at the 2021 LA Auto Show, showcased a visionary design representing the future of the IONIQ brand. It emphasized creating a space for both personal and family moments. The IONIQ 9 carries forward SEVEN’s lounge-like interior theme, offering a comfortable and inviting cabin. Shared design elements between SEVEN and IONIQ 9 include the flat floor, rounded shapes, swivel seats, and the Universal Island console.
In addition, the Elliptical Design from SEVEN finds its way into the IONIQ 9’s interior, creating a visually soft and welcoming environment. The ellipse-inspired forms evoke a calm and natural tone, allowing customers to enjoy a serene and focused in-car atmosphere.
Q. The IONIQ 9 has established itself as the three-row electric SUV of the IONIQ brand. What are the similarities and differences in interior design compared to previous models like the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6?
senior designer Sung-jun Kim | The common thread among the IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, and IONIQ 9 is their inspiration from home living experiences. The IONIQ 5 focuses on creating a personal living space for the driver, while the IONIQ 6 emphasizes a functional retreat. In contrast, the IONIQ 9 is designed as a premium lounge for all occupants to enjoy together. Instead of concentrating on one specific area, the entire interior was crafted to be non-intrusive and harmonious. With its vast and spacious cabin, we aimed to deliver a calming and comfortable environment where customers can relax and make the most of their time inside the vehicle.
Q. What are the standout design elements of the IONIQ 9?
senior designer Sung-jun Kim | Sitting in the driver’s seat of the IONIQ 9, you’ll immediately notice the clean and well-organized cockpit. We’ve maximized the sense of space with a floating dashboard and floating center fascia, while the slim air vents emphasize a sleek, minimalist aesthetic. The cabin also features advanced technologies such as a panoramic curved display and interactive pixel lights, which interact seamlessly with the driver. These innovations play a vital role in delivering a more advanced and immersive electrified driving experience.
When designing the interior of the IONIQ 9, the primary focus was user convenience. Guided by a customer-centric design philosophy, great effort was made to ensure that anyone could easily and comfortably enjoy the interior space. One standout feature reflecting this principle is the Universal Island 2.0 console. This console can slide forward and backward up to 190mm, allowing effortless movement between the driver’s seat and the passenger seat. Additionally, its bi-directional armrest opens from either side, enabling both first-row and second-row passengers to utilize the storage space with ease.
Q. Were there any designs implemented based on diverse uses?
senior designer Sung-jun Kim | The interior of the IONIQ 9 was crafted to be more than just a static space—it's designed as a versatile environment that adapts to customer needs. For starters, relaxation seats and massage seats have been applied to both the first and second rows. Notably, the second row features swivel functionality, allowing the seats to rotate and enabling up to four occupants to relax comfortably while rearranging the interior layout to suit their preferences. Furthermore, the digital side mirror displays were softened with a rounded design to complement the elliptical theme. For added safety, side and rear warning lamps were incorporated into the bezel, ensuring enhanced visibility and prioritizing customer safety.
The IONIQ 9 exemplifies a customer-centric design that considers diverse lifestyles and needs. This outcome was made possible through the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team, including Sung-chan Kim, Jae-joon Lee, Jung-sun Min, Sang-won Shin, Byung-wook Kim, Shin-hyun Kang, Hyo-jung Choi, Won-tae Kim, Ju-ha Kim, Won-young Bae, Ji-soo Kim, Jeong-hoon Lee, and Eun-young Jung. Ultimately, the IONIQ 9 is a product of the collective efforts and thoughtful considerations of people with a range of experiences. We hope many families who value happiness and safety will enjoy the countless benefits and versatility the IONIQ 9 has to offer.
Sustainable Luxury Inspired by the Colors and Textures of Nature
Q. What is the concept behind the IONIQ 9’s color design?
senior designer Jung-in Hong | The colors of the IONIQ 9 draw deep inspiration from nature, the fundamental essence of our lives. Through this concept, Hyundai aimed to evoke feelings of comfort and familiarity, ensuring that customers experience a sense of warm care in the IONIQ 9. The exterior and interior colors of the vehicle have been developed to reflect the harmonious and quiet order of nature, creating a seamless and balanced aesthetic.
Q. Tell us about the new exterior colors of the IONIQ 9 and their unique characteristics.
senior designer Jung-in Hong | The IONIQ 9 introduces three new exterior colors: Celadon Gray Metallic/Matte, Ionosphere Green Pearl, and Sunset Brown Pearl. Celadon Gray Metallic/Matte captures the dynamic and ever-changing aspects of nature. This color showcases a spectrum of hues depending on the viewing angle and the incidence of light, with dramatic shifts in tone under specific lighting and environmental conditions. Ionosphere Green Pearl is inspired by the ethereal beauty of the aurora borealis seen in the night sky. First introduced with the concept car SEVEN, this color has been refined and developed into a signature option for the IONIQ 9. Sunset Brown Pearl reflects the serene moment of a fall sunset over open fields, where the sun disappears beyond the horizon. This color employs a variety of pearl finishes that shift between silver-green, red, and yellow hues, creating a captivating transformation depending on ambient lighting.
Q. How is the interior color scheme of the IONIQ 9 structured? What are the key features of the interior colors?
senior designer Jung-in Hong | The interior color palette was developed with inspiration from nature. The IONIQ 9 offers five interior color options: Black monotone, Black-Dove Gray two-tone, Dark Teal-Dove Gray two-tone, Mud Gray-Creamy Beige two-tone, and Cognac Brown-Creamy Beige two-tone. To embody the interior design's core value of "Built to belong (connection beyond the space)," the colors emphasize horizontal combinations and light tones, prioritizing refined beauty with minimal unnecessary embellishments.
Q. 'Sustainability' has become a crucial factor when choosing a car. Has the interior of the IONIQ 9 incorporated eco-friendly materials?
senior designer Jung-in Hong | Hyundai has adopted a practical approach to expanding sustainability by using two main types of eco-friendly materials. These include bio-based materials derived from natural byproducts like corn and rapeseed, as well as recycled materials created from artificial byproducts like PET bottles and discarded tires. The IONIQ 9 goes beyond the eco-friendly materials introduced in the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6, incorporating additional features like a BIO polyurethane (PU) finish on the crash pad and BIO suede in the headliner, significantly broadening the scope of sustainable materials used.
Q. What characteristics define the interior materials and finishes of the IONIQ 9?
senior designer Jung-in Hong | The interior of the IONIQ 9 has been crafted to evoke warmth and comfort inspired by nature. The aluminum trim featured in the Calligraphy model breaks away from traditional mechanical patterns, adopting an organic, handcrafted design reminiscent of metalwork artisanship. Additionally, the suede used for the pillars and headlining is made from 100% corn-derived yarn, enhancing its soft texture and creating a more relaxing space. To elevate the sense of luxury, soft-touch paint and premium leather have been applied to areas frequently seen and touched by customers.
Q. Considering the fact that there are high customer expectations towards premium electric vehicles, what value does the IONIQ 9 deliver to its customers?
senior designer Jung-in Hong | The IONIQ 9 highlights the essence of a premium electric vehicle through its carefully selected materials, colors, and meticulous finishes. In essence, the IONIQ 9 embodies ‘Sustainable Luxury’ by utilizing eco-friendly colors and materials. Since its design draws inspiration from nature, we hope customers feel the warmth and tranquility of natural elements when experiencing the IONIQ 9. Additionally, we encourage customers to explore the enriched mobility and innovative spatial value that Hyundai’s three-row electric SUV offers.
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