Hyundai Ioniq 5 joins Zac Efron in new season of ‘Down to Earth’

MANILA: The Hyundai Ioniq 5 all-electric SUV went on a sustainable road trip in the new season of Down to Earth with Zac Efron: Down Under, which premiered on Netflix on Friday.  The show serves as the foundation for a sustainability campaign with the overarching goal of spreading the core message “Take Small Steps to Make A Big Difference” across different media platforms.

In Efron's inspirational docuseries, which is currently in its second season, the American actor partners with wellness expert Darin Olien to travel through Australia's diverse landscapes with the help of Hyundai Ioniq 5. Together, they explore local communities and cultural traditions in “the land down under,” looking for sustainable, healthy lifestyles. In addition to giving Efron and Olien clean mobility, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 also supports their journey with customer-centric features like its roomy interior and V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) function, which can power other electric vehicles as well as small appliances and electronic devices.

“As the theme of ‘Down to Earth with Zac Efron’ aligns closely with Ioniq 5’s sustainability message, we believe the EV’s eco-friendliness will be well-represented in a native and natural manner. We are delighted to share in this partnership opportunity and eager to deliver the message that one small action can make a big difference for the planet. It just goes to show that Ioniq 5’s demonstration of environmental responsibility doesn’t stop with electrification,” Hyundai Motor Company Executive Vice President and Customer Experience Division Head Thomas Schemera stated.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 plays a major role in the show. This role is part of an ambitious product marketing campaign created in collaboration with the show's production team. This campaign uses Down to Earth content on various platforms to target the Gen Z target audience of the show, for whom sustainability is a core value.

To launch the campaign, a viral film was released on November 7 featuring the Hyundai Ioniq 5 integration scenes from Down to Earth showing Efron and Olien using the V2L function to operate small appliances and relaxing in its fully reclining front seats.

The campaign also included an Instagram social challenge, which was designed to encourage participation in a sustainable mission, such as “drink from tumbler within two hours” or “pack leftovers in a multi-use container within six hours.” Participants can randomly assign and practice these missions by using Instagram Reels' “random slot” augmented reality filter. The challenge will lead to a monetary donation made in participants’ names to earthday.org, the non-profit organization responsible for Earth Day matters.

Furthermore, the Roblox challenge for the campaign supports the idea that every sustainable action contributes to the development of an eco-friendly community. Players take part in minigames and quests that focus on sustainable lifestyle habits, such as upcycling and plogging, drinking coffee from reusable cups, and rescuing endangered species. In the game's Eco Forest Zone, the results of those daily actions are collected as life energy to grow a “world tree.” When this tree reaches a certain level, the Roblox game money will also be cashed in and donated to earthday.org.

These two challenges have greater significance as Efron and Down to Earth executive producer Michael Simkin are participating as Global Advisory Members of earthday.org.

Down to Earth is an educational docuseries that discusses how communities maintain sustainable lifestyles. It features meaningful conversations with local experts and scientists who are advancing and raising awareness of various global environmental challenges. The first season has over 50 million views to date.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 made its global debut in 2021. It is the first model in Hyundai’s new Ioniq brand. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is engineered with the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), which is Hyundai Motor Group’s specialized architecture for BEVs. The vehicle features a long wheelbase, eco-friendly interior features, advanced driver assistance and safety features, and a powerful performance with ultra-fast charging and a V2L function.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5’s design was inspired by the Hyundai Pony, which is the brand’s first-ever production car. This highlights the 45-year journey of Hyundai in the automotive industry.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 exhibits a unique midsize crossover utility vehicle (CUV) exterior look, chiseled with clean and edgy linear accents. The vehicle is designed with a 3,000mm wheelbase.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5’s front features Hyundai’s first clamshell hood that is developed with less panel gaps for better aerodynamics. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 also sports a striking front bumper, which is accentuated by unique V-shaped daytime running lights (DRLs). The vehicle is also equipped with auto flush door handles and Hyundai's “Parametric Dynamics” style, which was derived from the all-new Hyundai Tucson. The Ioniq 5’s bold C-pillar structure, which was inspired by Hyundai’s “45” EV concept, makes it more distinctive on the road. The “45” concept was first seen at the 2019 International Motor Show Germany where it exhibited its monocoque body and avant garde interior.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 gets the largest rims among all Hyundai electric vehicles. Each of its aero-optimized wheels has a diameter of 20 inches.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 features an eco-friendly solar roof that can collect and transmit energy to the vehicle’s battery to avoid battery discharge when traveling over longer distances.

On the inside, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 features the “Living Space” design, which is highlighted by the adjustable center console called the Universal Island. It is designed to provide a more flexible space inside the cabin. Its longer-than-usual wheelbase provides extra legroom for a more comfortable ride. The vehicle is also upholstered with electronically adjustable front seats, whose thickness were decreased by 30% to offer more room for the second-row passengers. The Ioniq 5 is also equipped with a heated steering wheel and heated front seat functions that can be used during winter season. To manifest its commitment in promoting sustainable development, the car seats, headliner, door trim, floor, and armrest were all made from eco-friendly materials such as recycled PET bottles, bio PET yarns and wool yarns, eco-processed leather, and bio paint with plant extracts. The cabin also features a unique ceiling which is made of one large glass panel without any support materials.

The second-row seats get slide forward and folding functions to provide more trunk space if needed. If the seats are fully folded, the Hyundai Ioniq 5’s standard 531-liter luggage space can be expanded to almost 1,600 liters. The vehicle also provides a front trunk space that can accommodate a maximum cargo of 57 liters.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 gets a wide and customizable dual cockpit with a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment display and a 12-inch digital gauge cluster. The vehicle’s infotainment system is designed with a Jong-e Graphic User Interface that lets the occupants adjust the interior ambience to Soft, Delicate, or Exuberant. For an enhanced music streaming inside the cabin, the Ioniq 5 offers a premium Bose sound system with eight speakers and a subwoofer. Another state-of-the-art cabin feature is the Augmented Reality Head-up Display that transforms the windshield into a screen to display relevant vehicle information, navigation, and even the car’s surroundings.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 also features a dynamic voice recognition system that lets the driver manage the air-conditioning system, radio, and hatch opening and closing. The system has also the ability to provide brief weather reports and stock market updates.

The latest version of the Bluelink connected car services can be used in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 to allow the owners to conveniently control their unit through their smartphone or voice commands. The additional features on the Bluelink’s latest upgrade include Connected Routing, Last Mile Navigation, and User Profile feature. The vehicle’s range, battery state, and charging times are also indicated in the mobile app. It also has a Remote Profile Management feature that allows the driver to save their personalized vehicle settings in the Bluelink cloud. The app also enables the seat adjustment, heating and ventilation functions through its Remote Start Enhancements feature.

Other Bluelink features include Vehicle Status Notifications, Maintenance Alert Enhancement, POI Send to Car Now with Waypoints, and Remote Climate Control. 

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 comes in different power electric (PE) systems to suit every customer’s needs. It offers two battery pack variants, either 58kWh or 72.6kWh. Customers can also choose between its two electric motor layouts, either both front and rear motors or with a rear motor only. All PE configurations can produce an optimal speed of 185kph.

An all-wheel drive option is also available for the Hyundai Ioniq 5. It comes with a 72.6kWh battery which delivers a maximum power output of 225kWh and a maximum torque of 605Nm. This PE system has the ability to accelerate from standstill to 100kph within 5.2 seconds. If this layout is used with a 58kWh battery, the vehicle can go from 0 to 100kph in 6.1 seconds.

Customers can also select the two-wheel drive option with a 72.6kWh battery that can drive around 470km to 480km on a single charge, according to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). The single-motor layout has the ability to accelerate from standstill to 100kph in 7.4 seconds. The PE can also be paired with a 58kWh battery, which enables the vehicle to go from 0 to 100kph in 8.5 seconds.

The BEV architecture of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is compatible with 400V and 800V charging stations. It features a multi-charging system that runs the motor and inverter to deliver 400V to 800V for constant charging compatibility.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 can be charged from 10% to 80% within 18 minutes when using a 350kW charger. According to WLTP, the vehicle can be charged for only five minutes to reach 100km.

With the V2L function, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 can charge up to 3.6kW of power on electric bicycles, scooters, camping equipment, and any electric devices. The charging ports are situated under the second row seats and on the vehicle exterior. High-powered electric devices can be charged through a converter.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 gets the latest Hyundai SmartSense version. It is a set of modern driver assistance features that heightens the vehicle’s safety and convenience level. This includes Highway Driving Assist 2 that uses the front view camera, radar sensors, and navigation data to assist the driver in passing through a highway. It also monitors the vehicle’s speed and following distance and it also comes handy when changing lanes. The Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist comes with a Junction Turning function that activates the brakes if it detects another vehicle when turning left at an intersection, a Junction Crossing function that detects other vehicles from the side when the going straight through an intersection, and a Lane-Changing Oncoming function that alerts the driver once it senses an approaching car crossing the centerline when the driver is changing lanes. Another SmartSense feature is the Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist that detects other vehicles on the side through the radar and uses differential braking to prevent collision. The Hyundai Smartsense also includes Driver Attention Warning that alerts the driver once it senses any sign of inattentiveness.  Other SmartSense features include Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, which monitors the vehicle’s speed and adjusts it based on the speed limit, and High Beam Assist, which enables high beams to avoid blinding approaching drivers.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 also comes with a blind spot view monitor that displays the vehicle’s side surroundings to guide the driver in changing lanes. The vehicle is also equipped with a remote smart parking assist feature that lets the driver conveniently park from outside the vehicle through a button on the smart key. The driver can also get a 360-degree view of the vehicle’s outside surroundings through the surround view monitor. The Ioniq 5 also comes with a reverse parking collision-avoidance assist feature that uses the rear view camera and rear ultrasonic sensors to warn the driver and enable the brakes when it detects an obstacle while backing up. Another driver assistance feature is the rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist that detects an approaching car from the side. It alerts the driver through a visual warning and alarm.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 made its Philippine debut last September at the Philippine International Motor Show 2022. According to Hyundai Motor Philippines Inc., it will hit the local market in 2023.

Photos from Hyundai Motor Company

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