‘Daring’ is almost an understatement in describing this impending sedan’s incredible design.

ALL sorts of shapes inspire car design; going by the silhouette of Hyundai’s Ioniq 6, the muse could well have been a computer mouse.

Still, if you want to be noticed, you have to be bold, right? Release today by Hyundai of images of their first electric sedan, a sister ship - despite the total lack of obvious styling parity - to the Ioniq 5 hatch, confirm that the model, set to land in New Zealand next year, is as eye-catching as the Prophecy concept from which it derives and is far from an average-looking four-door.

So what’s driven this design direction? Aero efficiency is the obvious answer; this car’s co-efficient of drag is an astounding 0.21, which might rise a touch in NZ market form, given that our cars will likely provision with conventional wing mirrors, that’ll disrupt airflow, with the camera mirrors on this one maybe being options.

Also, it reminds just how much more freedom is delivered when a design isn’t constrained by an internal combustion engine architecture.

In this instance, though, whereas Hyundai used the first car it actually had designed and built just for itself - the Pony of the 1970s - as the muse for the Ioniq 5, it reached back to the 1930s, a time when the brand didn’t exist, for the ‘Six’.

Back then, streamlining was all the rage, and the results were often as intriguing and off-the-wall as the Korean car is. The Cord, the Stout Scarab, the Phantom Corsair and the Tatra 87: All were shaped by designer intent to go aero in the same way that, among other things, airships were. The first car from Saab, a brand with aviation roots, the 92, has been directly-referenced by Hyundai’s vice president of styling, SangYup Lee. Likewise the Douglas C-47 Skytrain, which is shown in one of the publicity photos.

“The Thirties showcased the perfect combination of design and engineering,” he says. “There was a big debate internally about whether we should call the new car Streamliner. The best design doesn’t create customers, it creates fans.”

Hyundai accepts the look will be controversial. It expresses that the Ioniq 6 is about “ethical uniqueness” and will deliver a "unique individuality". It has further suggested the “unique, head-turning design" is one for consumers who are into "bold self expression."

However that plays out has yet to be tested, but in the real world, a cited foe, the Tesla Model S, will surely look seriously dated alongside this car.

The Ioniq 6 will reportedly launch with a 77.4-kWh battery pack in combination with a 223kW dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain. Other single- and dual-motor powertrains with rear- and all-wheel drive should be on the menu as well.

BTW, it’s as long and lean as it appears to be. The wheelbase is 2.9 metres and overall length is 4.8m. It’s 1.5m tall.

Hyundai is expected to start series production at the Asan Plant in South Korea next month, with the first customer deliveries to take place before the end of the year.