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Hyundai IONIQ 6 crushes initial range estimates ahead of launch

Credit: Hyundai North America

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Hyundai has revealed the range specifications for its upcoming Hyundai IONIQ 6 sedan, and it demolished the company’s original range estimates.

Hyundai revealed the IONIQ 6 sport sedan late last year at the Los Angeles Auto Show, highlighting the incredible aerodynamics and performance the new vehicle was capable of. According to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the car is capable of significantly better range than originally advertised. Little did Hyundai engineers know but they were selling themselves short.

According to the Hyundai press release, the Hyundai IONIQ 6 sedan will have a maximum range of 361 miles with its SE Rear-Wheel-Drive Long-Range configuration, a full 21 miles more than initially announced. This is thanks to a 0.22 drag coefficient and a reasonably large 77.4 kWh battery. Thankfully for consumers, this is actually the cheapest configuration to come to the United States. However, this is only because the smaller 53 kWh battery won’t reach the North American market.

Higher-level trims and the optional all-wheel-drive system both take away significant amounts of range. For the SE Long Range, adding AWD cuts range from 361 miles to 316. This loss is only compounded by high trims with more interior amenities and larger 20-inch wheels, cutting the range to 305 miles for the SEL AWD and 270 miles for the top-of-the-line Limited AWD configuration.

While the higher trim and optional AWD seem detrimental, they come with some valid trade-offs. For instance, the high-performance AWD system adds nearly 100 horsepower, totaling 320, and adds just over 150 pound-feet of torque, totaling 446.

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At the very least, no matter what trim you choose, you benefit from some of the highest efficiencies in the EV market. The max range model achieves an “MPGe rating” of 140 from the EPA, matching the Lucid Air and beating out the Tesla Model 3 by eight points. The lowest range and highest trim model of the Hyundai IONIQ 6, with a rating of 103 MPGe, you are still only a stone’s throw away from the IONIQ 5 with 110 MPGe.

Hyundai’s first sedan EV offering will be coming to dealers in the Spring of this year but has not received pricing information as of today.

Hyundai’s impressive efficiency metrics stack atop numerous other innovations on display in the IONIQ 6. The electric sedan charges from 10-80% in a mere 18 minutes, boasts impressive low NVH due to its aerodynamic design and still retains the powerful drivetrain that has attracted so many to Hyundai’s larger IONIQ offering, the IONIQ 5.

Hyundai is setting itself to take the market by storm with its newest EV offering. With such impressive technical specifications, it is once again battling with the leaders in the market. It will be fantastic to finally see its newest offerings entering the North American roadways.

Hyundai Ioniq 6 Certification by Joey Klender on Scribd

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What do you think of the article? Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns? Shoot me an email at william@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @WilliamWritin. If you have news tips, email us at tips@teslarati.com!

Will is an auto enthusiast, a gear head, and an EV enthusiast above all. From racing, to industry data, to the most advanced EV tech on earth, he now covers it at Teslarati.

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Tesla (TSLA) receives “Buy” rating and $551 PT from Canaccord Genuity

He also maintained a “Buy” rating for TSLA stock over the company’s improving long-term outlook, which is driven by autonomy and robotics.

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Credit: Tesla China

Canaccord Genuity analyst George Gianarikas raised his Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) price target from $482 to $551. He also maintained a “Buy” rating for TSLA stock over the company’s improving long-term outlook, which is driven by autonomy and robotics. 

The analyst’s updated note

Gianarikas lowered his 4Q25 delivery estimates but pointed to several positive factors in the Tesla story. He noted that EV adoption in emerging markets is gaining pace, and progress in FSD and the Robotaxi rollout in 2026 represent major upside drivers. Further progress in the Optimus program next year could also add more momentum for the electric vehicle maker. 

“Overall, yes, 4Q25 delivery expectations are being revised lower. However, the reset in the US EV market is laying the groundwork for a more durable and attractive long-term demand environment. 

“At the same time, EV penetration in emerging markets is accelerating, reinforcing Tesla’s potential multi‑year growth runway beyond the US. Global progress in FSD and the anticipated rollout of a larger robotaxi fleet in 2026 are increasingly important components of the Tesla equity story and could provide sentiment tailwinds,” the analyst wrote. 

Tesla’s busy 2026

The upcoming year would be a busy one for Tesla, considering the company’s plans and targets. The autonomous two-seat Cybercab has been confirmed to start production sometime in Q2 2026, as per Elon Musk during the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting.

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Apart from this, Tesla is also expected to unveil the next-generation Roadster on April 1, 2026. Tesla is also expected to start high-volume production of the Tesla Semi in Nevada next year. 

Apart from vehicle launches, Tesla has expressed its intentions to significantly ramp the rollout of FSD to several regions worldwide, such as Europe. Plans are also underway to launch more Robotaxi networks in several more key areas across the United States.

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Waymo sues Santa Monica over order to halt overnight charging sessions

In its complaint, Waymo argued that its self-driving cars’ operations do not constitute a public nuisance, and compliance with the city’s order would cause the company irreparable harm.

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Credit: Waymo

Waymo has filed a lawsuit against the City of Santa Monica in Los Angeles County Superior Court, seeking to block an order that requires the company to cease overnight charging at two facilities. 

In its complaint, Waymo argued that its self-driving cars’ operations do not constitute a public nuisance, and compliance with the city’s order would cause the company irreparable harm.

Nuisance claims

As noted in a report from the Los Angeles Times, Waymo’s two charging sites at Euclid Street and Broadway have operated for about a year, supporting the company’s growing fleet with round-the-clock activity. Unfortunately, this has also resulted in residents in the area reportedly being unable to sleep due to incessant beeping from self-driving taxis that are moving in and out of the charging stations around the clock. 

Frustrated residents have protested against the Waymos by blocking the vehicles’ paths, placing cones, and “stacking” cars to create backups. This has also resulted in multiple calls to the police.

Last month, the city issued an order to Waymo and its charging partner, Voltera, to cease overnight operations at the charging locations, stating that the self-driving vehicles’ activities at night were a public nuisance. A December 15 meeting yielded no agreement on mitigations like software rerouting. Waymo proposed changes, but the city reportedly insisted that nothing would satisfy the irate residents.

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“We are disappointed that the City has chosen an adversarial path over a collaborative one. The City’s position has been to insist that no actions taken or proposed by Waymo would satisfy the complaining neighbors and therefore must be deemed insufficient,” a Waymo spokesperson stated.

Waymo pushes back

In its legal complaint, Waymo stated that its “activities at the Broadway Facilities do not constitute a public nuisance.” The company also noted that it “faces imminent and irreparable harm to its operations, employees, and customers” from the city’s order. The suit also stated that the city was fully aware that the Voltera charging sites would be operating around the clock to support Waymo’s self-driving taxis.

The company highlighted over one million trips in Santa Monica since launch, with more than 50,000 rides starting or ending there in November alone. Waymo also criticized the city for adopting a contentious strategy against businesses. 

“The City of Santa Monica’s recent actions are inconsistent with its stated goal of attracting investment. At a time when the City faces a serious fiscal crisis, officials are choosing to obstruct properly permitted investment rather than fostering a ‘ready for business’ environment,” Waymo stated. 

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Tesla FSD v14.2.2 is getting rave reviews from drivers

So far, early testers have reported buttery-smooth drives with confident performance, even at night or on twisty roads.

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Credit: @BLKMDL3/X

Tesla Full Self-Driving (Supervised) v14.2.2 is receiving positive reviews from owners, with several drivers praising the build’s lack of hesitation during lane changes and its smoother decision-making, among others. 

The update, which started rolling out on Monday, also adds features like dynamic arrival pin adjustment. So far, early testers have reported buttery-smooth drives with confident performance, even at night or on twisty roads.

Owners highlight major improvements

Longtime Tesla owner and FSD user @BLKMDL3 shared a detailed 10-hour impression of FSD v14.2.2, noting that the system exhibited “zero lane change hesitation” and “extremely refined” lane choices. He praised Mad Max mode’s performance, stellar parking in locations including ticket dispensers, and impressive canyon runs even in dark conditions.

Fellow FSD user Dan Burkland reported an hour of FSD v14.2.2’s nighttime driving with “zero hesitations” and “buttery smooth” confidence reminiscent of Robotaxi rides in areas such as Austin, Texas. Veteran FSD user Whole Mars Catalog also demonstrated voice navigation via Grok, while Tesla owner Devin Olsen completed a nearly two-hour drive with FSD v14.2.2 in heavy traffic and rain with strong performance.

Closer to unsupervised

FSD has been receiving rave reviews, even from Tesla’s competitors. Xpeng CEO He Xiaopeng, for one, offered fresh praise for FSD v14.2 after visiting Silicon Valley. Following extended test drives of Tesla vehicles running the latest FSD software, He stated that the system has made major strides, reinforcing his view that Tesla’s approach to autonomy is indeed the proper path towards autonomy.

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According to He, Tesla’s FSD has evolved from a smooth Level 2 advanced driver assistance system into what he described as a “near-Level 4” experience in terms of capabilities. While acknowledging that areas of improvement are still present, the Xpeng CEO stated that FSD’s current iteration significantly surpasses last year’s capabilities. He also reiterated his belief that Tesla’s strategy of using the same autonomous software and hardware architecture across private vehicles and robotaxis is the right long-term approach, as it would allow users to bypass intermediate autonomy stages and move closer to Level 4 functionality.

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