First Hyundai N EV hits the snow with i20 N rally car as part of final shakedown before launch
Ahead of its debut later this year, the 2023 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N has been teased drifting in the snow alongside the Korean brand’s WRC rally car.
Building anticipation for the Hyundai N division’s first-ever high-performance electric car, the flagship Hyundai IONIQ N looks just as comfortable in the sub-zero conditions as the competition-spec i20 N Rally 1 car.
Set for an official unveiling mid-year, the fast Hyundai EV will share its dual-motor powertrain with the closely-related 2023 Kia EV6 GT.
In the EV6 GT, the dual-motor/all-wheel drive powertrain produces a lusty 430kW and 740Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100km/h blast in 3.5 seconds and a 260km/h top speed.
Those figures are a huge step up from the current IONIQ 5 flagship, which produces 225kW/305Nm and can sprint to 100km/h in 5.2sec.
Despite the levels of performance on tap, the IONIQ 5 N is still thought to be capable of covering more than 400km between top-ups thanks to its 77.4kWh lithium-ion battery.
We can see from the video that the hot IONIQ 5 rides lower and on bigger wheels compared to the standard car, while featuring a sporty body kit that will boost downforce and high-speed stability without increasing range-sapping drag.
New tech that makes its debut on the IONIQ 5 N is something called the N Drift Optimiser that virtually shuffles torque front to rear, adjusts steering weight, suspension stiffness and operates the e-LSD on the rear axle for the perfect, most lurid slide.
New N Torque Distribution software also pre-arms the all-wheel drive and e-LSD for each individual driving mode.
It’s not known if the N Drift Optimiser only works in geofenced locations, like racetracks, or if it will be capable of being unleashed on public roads. If it’s the latter, expect the new tech to potentially be banned for the Australian market.
Expect more teasers of the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N to be released in the build-up to its mid-year debut.
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Keyword: 2023 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N goes drifting