Hyundai might have just dropped a massive hint about two upcoming models after the company filed trademarks for two names in Australia, those of which are thought to belong to a pair of electric utes.
According to Carsales, the Korean carmaker submitted the two names to IP Australia which read, ‘Ioniq T7’ and ‘Ioniq T10’.
The tip-off that these supposed models are fully electric comes down to the ‘Ioniq’ designation, which is exclusively reserved for Hyundai’s EVs such as the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6. It’s thought that the ‘T’ stands for ‘truck’ while the number denotes the size of the vehicle.
We understand that the T7 will be a smaller SUV-based dual-cab ute that caters more towards lifestyle use similar to the Santa Cruz, a unibody pick-up based on the Tuscon SUV that is only sold in the United States.
As for the T10, the larger of the two, it’s said to be a more rugged/heavy-duty model built on the same ladder frame platform as Kia’s upcoming ute, the Tasman.
It’s worth noting that Kia is still in the process of developing its dual-cab, which will initially be launched with a turbocharged diesel powertrain. However, plans are in place to release a fully electric variant before 2026.
Nothing has been announced by either Korean carmaker regarding timing, nor have their respective models been officially announced.
However, our biggest clue as to when we’ll see either model comes from the Chief Operating Officer of Hyundai Australia, John Kett, who told Carsales last year that Oceania could see a ute from the brand within the next 12 months. That was six months ago, so we don’t have long to wait before we hear a formal answer.