Hyundai is leaning hard into the blackout trend, and the new 2027 Ioniq 9 Performance Calligraphy Black Ink Edition might be its boldest take yet. Built on the brand’s three-row electric flagship, this new top trim takes the already upscale Ioniq 9 and gives it a much moodier, more assertive personality with blacked-out treatment inside and out. It is the sort of special edition that does not try to reinvent the vehicle underneath, but it absolutely changes the vibe in a way that makes the big family EV feel a little more dramatic and a lot more premium.

Visually, Hyundai seems to understand exactly why editions like this work. The Ioniq 9 already has a distinct shape, and covering it in Abyss Black Pearl while adding dark exterior trim, black 21-inch wheels, black badging, and gloss black details helps pull the whole design together in a cleaner, sleeker way. Some vehicles wear blackout packages like an afterthought, but this one sounds far more cohesive. Instead of just adding darkness for the sake of trendiness, Hyundai appears to be using it to give the Ioniq 9 a sharper identity at the top of the lineup.

The same theme carries into the cabin, where Hyundai has gone all in on an all-black environment that should feel especially rich in a vehicle of this size. That alone would have been enough for some buyers, but because this is based on the loaded Performance Calligraphy trim, the Black Ink Edition also packs in nearly everything Hyundai currently offers on the Ioniq 9. That includes upscale touches like a head-up display, microfiber headliner and pillars, remote smart parking assist, metal-finished pedals, and the broader comfort and tech features that already help the Ioniq 9 stand out as one of the more compelling mainstream three-row EVs on the market.

Underneath the dark styling treatment, the hardware remains seriously capable. The Black Ink Edition uses the dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup with 422 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, and Car and Driver has already clocked the Performance AWD Ioniq 9 at 4.4 seconds to 60 mph. That is quick by any standard, let alone for a three-row family hauler. It also keeps the 110-kWh battery and the same 311-mile range quoted for other Ioniq 9 models riding on 21-inch wheels, so buyers are not sacrificing meaningful usability in exchange for the extra style.

What really makes this edition interesting is what it says about Hyundai right now. The company is no longer just trying to prove it can build a good EV. It is now getting comfortable adding personality and image to its electric lineup in ways that feel deliberate. We have seen hints of that before with dark-themed special editions on other Hyundai models, but applying the formula to the Ioniq 9 gives the brand’s largest EV a little more swagger. For a family SUV, that matters more than it used to. Buyers in this space still want practicality, but they also want something that feels like a statement in the driveway.

Pricing has not been announced yet, but with the current top Ioniq 9 trim starting at $79,090, it is safe to expect the Black Ink Edition to move beyond that mark when it reaches dealers this summer. Even so, Hyundai may find plenty of buyers willing to pay for the look. The Ioniq 9 already has the size, speed, and tech to play in premium territory, and this new Black Ink Edition adds the sort of visual attitude that can make a flagship feel even more special. In a market where many electric SUVs are starting to look interchangeable, that alone gives Hyundai a useful edge.