Hyundai’s Tesla rival sells out in two hours

A new electric car promising to take the fight to Tesla sold out in rapid fashion, suggesting Aussie drivers are increasingly keen to go green.

Hyundai’s breakthrough Ioniq 5 electric car sold out in “just over two hours” as Australian drivers snapped up the brand’s first proper alternative to Tesla.

Mainstream manufacturers such as Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Renault and Nissan have offered compact electric cars that haven’t matched Tesla’s all-wheel-drive traction, impressive range and rapid charging potential.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has distinctive looks.

But the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 aim to change that with powerful electric motors, big batteries and eye-catching looks.

The manufacturer said 170 people placed orders for the car as soon as it was made available, building on 70 people who pre-ordered the car ahead of its local debut.

All 240 examples currently slated for Australia are spoken for.

Hyundai will re-open orders for the model when it secures further supply.

Unlike most mainstream electric cars, the Ioniq 5 is available with all-wheel-drive.

A spokesman for the brand said high load on its website caused “technical issues” before the car sold out before lunchtime on Tuesday.

“Once we have clear visibility of vehicle supply, we intend to release a second allocation of Ioniq 5s, with timing likely to be early 2022,” he said.

“Customers who missed out will receive regular updates about the supply situation and timing for release of the next batch.

“We plan to only release vehicles for order once production has been scheduled, to ensure reasonable delivery timeframes for our customers.”

The Ioniq’s spacious cabin is loaded with tech.

A global shortage of electrical components has caused frustrating delays across the car industry, with some models subject to delays of up to 12 months.

Kia says interest in its sister car, the EV6, is “unprecedented”, attracting thousands of potential owners to its Australian website.

Hyundai’s machine costs $71,900 plus on-road costs in two-wheel-drive form, or $75,900 plus on-road as an all-wheel-drive machine with impressive 225kW and 605Nm power.

The standard car offers more than 450 kilometres of electric range, along with fast-charging ability that outguns anything short of the Porsche Taycan or Tesla range.