LA 2016: Hyundai Ioniq - a significant advance in autonomy

Is the most significant car in LA actually a small blue Hyundai? It doesn’t look like much, but the blue Ioniq EV lurking at the back of Hyundai’s stand (we thought the Ioniq was only allowed in white…) represents a real advance. Why? This Ioniq is autonomous, and it has all-important Lidar sensors incorporated into its body, rather than sensors sprouting like comedy bunny ears on top of the roof.

Here, the sensor is incorporated below the license plate holder, and there are an array of other cameras and sensors at the top of the windshield. Inside, a large, secondary upper screen in the IP displays the autonomous situation and context surrounding the vehicle.

As recently as CES 2012 an autonomous Lexus looked like it was equipped with a ton of roof scaffolding to carry its extra equipment. This Ioniq is proof that the autonomous vehicle is coming, and fast.