Hyundai has released a teaser of their upcoming new-generation green car. It will be neither an electric or a hybrid: it will be both. For the first time on the automotive market, a manufacturer will offer the three options of an electric, a hybrid or a plug-in hybrid powertrain in the same model of car. Introducing the Hyundai Ioniq.

The model will officially debut in South Korea in January before heading to Geneva and New York in the Spring. The Ioniq is the embodiment of Hyundai’s desire to become a leader in environmentally friendly car technologies. The manufacturer says this is the very first car available in both an electric and a hybrid/plug-in hybrid variant, which is technically true, but not the full story. The i3 is available as an electric only or with a range extender, which is similar in practice to a hybrid – at least from the driver’s perspective.

The model will be built on an entirely new, optimized platform that Hyundai claims will deliver both responsive handling and superior fuel economy, whatever powertrain it is equipped with.

There has been no word yet as to what the model’s specs are and where it will be marketed, but Canada rocks in terms of hybrids and electric offerings. Other than the fact that the teaser hints at a Volt-inspired silhouette, which has just gone out of fashion with the upgraded Volt, we’re all for using less liquefied dinosaurs in our engines.

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