Hyundai Showcases Ioniq 5 with e-Corner Tech - Perfect for tight parking jobs?

Hyundai Mobis, the Korean automaker's spare parts and autonomous driving division, recently showcased a new and eye-catching in-wheel module mounted on a prototype IONIQ 5 during the recent Consumer Electronics Show 2023 (CES 2023) in Las Vegas.

The e-Corner technology was first shown to the public a few years ago, but it wasn't until this year's CES show that the public had the opportunity to see the module in use when primed in the full-sized IONIQ 5 electric crossover SUV.

With this tech, the SUV's manoeuvrability is comparable to that of most modern forklifts because of the SUV's four-corner steering's wide range of motion. This makes it possible for each wheel to move, stop, and turn independently.

Apart from freeing up space in the rest of the vehicle, the wheel modules can also be freely fitted to a wide range of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) without taking up any extra space.

As each wheel can swivel and drive independently, the IONIQ 5 is capable of some impressive driving manoeuvres. Amongst which is its ability to ‘crabwalk’ directly into or out of a parallel parking space.

When enabled by the e-Corner module, it can turn all four wheels within 90 degrees of steering and raises the car's performance to a whole new level. By turning the wheels outward and moving them in opposite directions, the car is also able to spin on the spot.

There is also a zero-turn function for situations where you need to quickly turn around. To allow the prototype to spin 360 degrees, the wheels rotate at about a 45-degree angle.

In short, it has the ability to pivot around the front wheels by directing only the rear wheels while driving diagonally.

As we notice here, the vehicle's manoeuvrability has been greatly improved by technology and made it simple to understand how these skills would be useful for challenging tasks like parallel parking in confined spaces.

Other car companies, such as Rivian, have previously experimented with individual wheel motors for zero-radius turns. The GMC Hummer EV also performs some cool crab-walking manoeuvres using its rear-wheel steering.

Hyundai Mobis has not shared any other details about its e-Corner module, but it's clear that it has the potential to simplify the entire EV assembly process while also providing extra manoeuvrability for drivers.

For Hyundai Mobis, the ultimate goal here is to see e-Corner modules installed in production vehicles capable of gracefully manoeuvring in confined spaces. How Hyundai will make this a reality is something only time will tell.