Hyundai has announced a series of upgrades for the Ioniq – the first car to be available as a hybrid, plug-in or pure electric vehicle.

The most significant improvement concerns the electric model which will be supplied with a more powerful battery that will increase the single charge range to more than 180 miles.

There is also a revised interior with extra connectivity and a fresh look to the front of the car with the hybrid and plug-in versions getting a mesh grille and redesigned light clusters.

Prices for the new models, which will be on the road later this year, are yet to be announced but the current range starts from £21,795 for the hybrid, £28,395 for plug-in and £30,750 for the EV.

All Ioniq models will feature Blue Link connectivity systems which allow for certain vehicle functions to be controlled remotely via an app-based smartphone link, as well as an eCall automatic emergency assistance feature.

Additional seat upholstery colours are being added, including red leather for the plug-in and hybrid cars. There is also a new-look control panel with touch-type buttons and a 10.25-inch wide screen display.

The battery capacity on the electric vehicle has been increased by more than 35 per cent to 38.3kWh which not only increases the driving range and performance but also enables an 80 per cent recharge from a fast charging station in under an hour.

The plug-in Ioniq can operate at up to 75mph in zero emission mode and has a purely electric range of up to 32 miles.

Both the hybrid and the plug-in versions of the Ioniq are fitted with a 1.6-litre petrol engine delivering 105ps and this is matched to a six-speed semi-automatic gearbox.

Safety features on all versions includes front collision avoidance, pedestrian detection and lane departure systems while the Ioniq Electric is also fitted with Hyundai’s I-pedal system which allows the vehicle to be stopped via the paddle shift levers without using the brake pedal.