Radical Hyundai Ioniq 3 Could Bring Apple CarPlay Ultra To Affordable EVs

Hyundai will showcase a compact EV at Europe's biggest motor show next week, and it could have a big dose of next-generation Apple tech.

Hyundai Ioniq 3 CarPlay Ultra

Photo by: Hyundai

Suvrat Kothari

By: Suvrat Kothari

Sep 2, 2025 at 10:59am ET

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Hyundai will showcase a small electric SUV called Concept Three at the Munich Motor Show in Germany next week.
It will be Hyundai's version of the Kia EV3 and feature the automaker's latest software platform.
The concept is expected to spawn into the Ioniq 3, and it will reportedly feature Apple CarPlay Ultra.

At Europe's biggest auto show, IAA Munich, next week, automakers will face pressing questions about the looming slowdown of electric vehicles in the U.S., one of their largest and most lucrative markets: How to make EVs affordable and how to drive organic demand as tax credits disappear? Hyundai is readying a hatchback-shaped answer to those questions, with a radical design and Apple CarPlay Ultra functionality.

The Korean auto giant on Tuesday teased what it calls the Concept Three, which would be “Ioniq’s first compact EV concept.”

It’s safe to assume that an Ioniq 3 small SUV is in the pipeline as a sibling to the Kia EV3 that is already on sale in South Korea and Europe. However, unlike the EV3, the Ioniq 3 will have a more radical design.

Hyundai Ioniq 3 concept teaser sketch

Photo by: Hyundai

The sketch gives hot-hatch vibes, with a sharp front splitter and bulging rear wheel arches that blend into what Hyundai is calling an “aero hatch.” Think of a highly aerodynamic rear with an integrated ducktail spoiler that also functions as a downforce multiplier. But the design may not be its biggest strength. The Ioniq 3 is poised to be one of Hyundai’s next-generation software-defined EVs.

Top Gear reported earlier that the Ioniq 3 will feature the company’s latest and greatest tech from Pleos, Hyundai’s new software division. The model will debut the automaker’s next-generation operating system and connected-car features, bringing future Hyundai EVs closer to the likes of Tesla and Rivian.

Instead of relying on multiple domain controllers, Hyundai will shift to a zonal architecture that uses fewer but more powerful onboard computers. That would radically simplify the vehicle’s electrical systems, boost data transfer speeds, make over-the-air updates more common, and make repair diagnosis easier, at least in theory.

Gallery: Apple CarPlay Ultra

Apple CarPlay Ultra

Source: Apple

The outlet also reported that Hyundai may offer Apple CarPlay Ultra on the Ioniq 3. Unlike standard CarPlay, CarPlay Ultra extends beyond the infotainment screen to take over the gauge cluster, effectively bringing the full iOS experience to every display in the car. That means even critical information such as battery range, tire pressure, speed and odometer readings would appear through iOS.

Both automakers and drivers will have access to high degrees of customization, similar to your iPhone or Apple Watch. So expect to choose from different wallpapers and color backgrounds or unique themes for the infotainment and the instrument cluster. CarPlay Ultra debuted earlier this year on Aston Martin’s model year 2025 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. If Hyundai adopts it, the Ioniq 3 could be the first affordable EV to feature the technology.

The compact electric SUV’s powertrain and battery details remain undisclosed, but the Kia EV3 offers good hints of what those would look like. The EV3 gets two battery options: 58.3 kilowatt-hours and 81.4 kWh. The former is good for 270 miles of range, while the bigger battery is rated for 375 miles on the optimistic WLTP cycle. For the U.S. market, Kia previously said it was targeting around 300 miles of range.

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The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is one of the most popular electric crossovers in the U.S., though much of its success has been fueled by aggressive offers made possible by the soon-to-expire federal tax credit. Now looking ahead, models like the Ioniq 3 may be exactly what Hyundai—and the broader EV market—might need to remain competitive in Trump’s America.

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