The Hyundai Ioniq 6 has lost its prominent ducktail rear wing and gained a sporty new N Line variant as part of an early facelift.

Less than three years after it was revealed, the rakish electric saloon has been redesigned with influence from 2022's race-inspired RN22e concept car, which itself previewed the hot Ioniq 6 N, due to be revealed this summer.

Revealed at the Seoul motor show in Korea, the new Ioniq 6 is said to feature "more refined curves and enhanced proportions for a sleek and beautifully balanced silhouette".

In keeping with its billing as what Hyundai calls an "electric streamliner", its swooping, wind-cheating proportions are broadly unchanged, but the bonnet's profile has been raised and now leads into a sharper, "shark-nose" front end with a prominent splitter that "appears to slice through the air".

Meanwhile, the headlights have been swapped for much slimmer LED items with a pixel motif – matching the newer Ioniq 9 SUV – and the lower body is now finished in black to emphasise the car's aerodynamically optimised silhouette. 

The rear end has been heavily reworked too, with the addition of a chrome-trimmed rear bumper and the removal of the prominent ducktail rear wing in favour of a subtler extended boot lip designed to "maintain aerodynamic performance while achieving a smoother, more refined silhouette".

Speaking to Autocar at the Seoul motor show, Simon Loasby, vice president of Hyundai styling, said: "We look at it now and we’re like ‘why didn’t we do that before?’.  Time sometimes helps you and then it looks as though it always looked like this, because that’s how it should’ve looked."

Asked why they removed the spoiler, Loasby added: "We spoke with the aero guys and they suggested having one spoiler instead of two and making the ducktail bigger [to increase efficiency]. You get that simplicity for the big duck, it just purifies it.”

Changes to the cabin are more subtle, but there's a lightly redesigned steering wheel, as seen in the Ioniq 9, and the centre console controls have been rearranged to improve ease of use. New door trim materials and a larger climate control display round off the updates.

Joining the range as part of this facelift is the Ioniq 6 N Line, which takes styling influence from Hyundai's N performance cars and is marked out by its more aggressive front end, sports-style wheels and contrasting black details. 

Technically, the Ioniq 6 is unchanged, keeping a 77.4kWh battery and either a 225bhp rear motor or a 321bhp dual-motor set-up. 

Maximum range was 339 miles, but it's unclear whether the design tweaks have impacted this. Charging speeds max out at 233kW.

Hyundai hasn't yet given any indication of a UK launch date for the new-look Ioniq 6, nor any word on pricing, but it's expected in showrooms in the next few months at a small premium over the current £47,000.