Hyundai’s ‘Seven’ idea EV is a self-driving lounge | Engadget

Hyundai is becoming a member of the ranks of automakers envisioning self-driving automobiles as residing rooms. The model has revealed its previously-teased “Seven” idea EV, and it is constructed for an period whenever you may solely sometimes take the helm. The SUV facilities on a lounge-like inside the place the driving force’s management stick retracts in autonomous mode, letting them and their passengers socialize thanks to 2 swivelling chairs and an L-shaped chaise. There’s even a mini fridge, shoe refreshers and a panoramic display screen that gives leisure or ambiance.

The Seven’s designers additionally took larger benefit of the liberties an electrical car affords. In addition to utilizing the flat flooring for a lounge, Hyundai pushed the wheelbase to a prolonged 10.5 toes with out rising the general measurement. You’ll additionally discover a low main hood edge and a “streamlined” roof. EVs stay or die on aerodynamics, and the corporate promised an aerodynamically “pure” physique regardless of the SUV profile.

This can be clearly a pandemic-era idea. The airflow system borrows from airliners with horizontal and vertical modes that scale back cross-contamination and in any other case shield hygiene. You’ll discover UVC lights that sterilize the surroundings as soon as passengers go away, together with storage.

And sure, that is really a shifting automobile. Hyundai is hoping for a variety over 300 miles, and affords 350kW charging that brings the Seven from a ten % cost to 80 % in roughly 20 minutes.

Hyundai makes it very clear this can be a idea you will not purchase. It does function a preview of a future electrical SUV, although, so you’ll be able to anticipate a extra conservative take that joins the Ioniq 5 within the firm’s increasing EV lineup. Consider the Seven a preview of each short- and long-term objectives.