The Ioniq 6 N is Hyundai's hottest EV yet, with over 600 horsepower and supercar levels of accelerationMatt Vosper / HyundaiCan a fully-electric car ever truly appeal to car lovers? The sort of person who appreciates a well-timed gear change, thinks carefully about corner entry and exit speed, and who actually notices the calibration of a suspension's bump and rebound.This person has historically bought a car from the M division of BMW, the AMG department of Mercedes or an Audi upgraded by the RS team. They might also own keys with GTI and Type R written on them.If forced to switch from internal combustion to an EV, this keen driver would probably visit Porsche to try out a Taycan. Just a few years ago they wouldn't have dreamed of knocking on Hyundai's door. Yet here we are. The Korean car maker's N division has built up such a name for itself – both with gas-powered hot hatchbacks and EVs – that its products are up there with the very best.And when it comes to the Ioniq 6 N, Hyundai actually finds itself in a class of one.The 6 N stands apart from the regular Ioniq 6 thanks to its prominent rear wing, signature blue paint and black wheels.The standard Ioniq 6 is a bit of a strange EV. It shares a conventional platform with the Ioniq 5 and other members of the Hyundai, Kia and Genesis family. That means a big battery, long range, high efficiency and, crucially, fast charging. Thanks to running at 800 volts instead of the more common 400, the battery fills at up to 263 kW.But on top of that platform the Ioniq 6 has a streamliner-style body that, while very slippery, makes it look a bit odd. It's nice to see a car that isn't the same boxy SUV shape as every other, but the way the roof and rear end slope away is a bit snail-like.Happily, the 6 N fixes this by fitting a massive wing. Below this is an aero-cheating Gurney flap, and while they don't generate F1 levels of downforce, they turn a rear end that previously looked like it was melting into something far more purposeful.Likewise the front, with its slim, scowling headlights, flared arches, red/orange details and pale blue paint, a signature of the Hyundai N department. It looks fantastic. It looks like a street-legal touring car. Which is appropriate, because it drives like one too.The simulated transmission makes the 6 N drive like a sports car with an eight-speed, semi-automatic gearbox, complete with paddle shifters, rev limiter and torque maps.I'll get to the simulated eight-speed transmission in a moment. But even without that, the Ioniq 6 N is a real driver's car. Composed and stable, but with an eagerness to change direction the moment you ask, the 6 N fills its driver with confidence.There's just the right amount of performance too - which sounds ludicrous when we're talking about 650hp sent from two motors to all four wheels, but that's what a modern EV and its heavy battery needs to feel properly quick.And the 6 N really is rapid. Hyundai claims a 0-62mph time of 3.2 seconds - the same as a McLaren F1, nineties supercar fans - but I saw 60 in 2.99 seconds, logged by the car's onboard stopwatch. That sounds outrageous, but the 6 N's grip, and total lack of body roll, makes all that performance feel entirely accessible.Then there's the Hyundai's joker card: a simulated gearbox. An evolution of what we saw debut in the Ioniq 5 N a couple of years ago, the new version has shorter virtual ratios, so you'll be pulling the paddles more frequently, but the premise is the same.The steering wheel features buttons for accessing the car's various N-Mode functionsPower and torque deployment mimics a real transmission (although the car really has just a single gear, like most EVs). There's a small lurch as you change gear, and even a rev limiter to crash into if you're not quick enough on the upshifts. The sound effects aren't quite as convincing, but it's good enough for a bit of fun and the volleys of tailpipe pops and bangs, delivered from a speaker in the trunk, sound (and feel) fairly authentic.All of this boosts driver engagement to a level unmatched by any other EV. Working through the gears adds a new dimension to the single plane of shove high-power electric cars usually deliver. The 6 N makes you work for it, and is more rewarding as a result. It's so believable I soon found myself short-shifting ahead of a corner or crest, before accelerating. There was no need to do that - it's a single-speed EV - but my brain had decided that a little pull of a paddle was required.It's a system that pulls your eyes, ears, fingers and feet into sync in a way no other EV can match. This is a Hyundai that makes a Porsche Taycan feel aloof.And when you're done hooning about, press a button and the 6 N reverts back to being a calm, quiet electric cruiser.Coming to the US later in 2026, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N is proof that electric cars can be seriously enjoyable to drive.The ride is a little firmer than the standard Ioniq 6 – albeit nothing approaching the bone-shaking stiffness of a more traditional sports car – and the range could be better. If driven as intended you're looking at about 200-250 miles per charge. At least it charges quickly, with just 18 minutes needed at a 350 kW charger to fill the battery from 10 to 80 percent.Finally, I'm pleased to report that the Ioniq 6 N is coming to the US, starting later this year. Exact details are still unknown, and it's likely to be available only in small numbers, but I hope the reception it'll surely receive will see import volumes increase. No confirmation on price yet. Here in the UK it runs about £65,000 (around $86,000), but the actual US price is expected to be closer to $70,000.