Hyundai’s N performance division taken the wraps of its first-ever electric performance vehicle: the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Revealed at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N promises to be a more performance orientated version of Hyundai’s much loved mid-size SUV and is set to arrive locally in the first half of 2024.
The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N features a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain pumping out a whopping 448kW of power and 740Nm of torque. Activating the ‘N Grin Boost’ (NGB) function ups the outputs to 478kW and 770Nm for 10 seconds. Hyundai says the Ioniq 5 N will hit the 100km/h from rest in an incredible in 3.4 seconds, with a top speed of 260km/h. Serious stuff.
These numbers are 239kW and 165Nm more than the dual-motor version of the regular Ioniq 5 and even 48kW and 30Nm more than Kia’s performance hero, the Kia EV6 GT.
Powering the Ioniq 5 N’s dual motors is a massive 84kWh battery. This is larger than the one in the regular Ioniq 5 range, which tops out at 77kW/h. Hyundai is yet to confirm the Ioniq 5 N’s official range figure and there’s no word about energy consumption figures either, but expect modest increases on account of the N’s wider tyres and less aerodynamic body.
The Ioniq 5 N features the same 800V electrical architecture as the rest of the Ioniq 5 range and is capable of 350kW DC fast charging. Hyundai claims a charge time of 18 minutes from 10 to 80 percent on a 350kW DC fast-charger.
Hyundai has also thrown the kitchen sink at the Ioniq 5 N’s chassis. The brand wants to show the world that EVs not only have blisteringly quick performance in a straight line, but that they can handle corners well too. Hyundai’s N sets out to create performance vehicles which are a ‘corner rascal’, have racetrack capability, yet also be an ‘everyday supercar’.
To make sure that the Ioniq 5 N’s driver appeal is as high as possible, there’s a limited-slip rear differential, newly tuned power steering, an enhanced battery thermal management system, a battery chiller, along with a new launch control function. For those looking to shred their tyres in the pursuit of fun, there’s also a drift mode.
Battery packs need to be kept at ideal temperatures in challenging environments such as racetracks. Ioniq 5 N features a battery preconditioning function that optimises the battery the task at hand. An N Race mode that allows owners to chose between ‘Endurance’ or ‘Sprint’ modes prior to a race, to prime the battery for the type of race ahead.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N comes with four-piston brake calipers on the front and single-piston caliper brake calipers on the rear which Hyundai says is the most powerful braking system it has ever fitted to a car. The N Brake Regen function offers up to 0.6G of decelerative force through regenerative braking alone, before friction brakes are engaged. Even under, full braking with the pedal pushed all the way in, regenerative braking can still provide a maximum of 0.2G decelerative force, along with over 1.0G of friction braking, meaning that the Ioniq 5 N should stop very nicely, and experience little to no brake fade.
Rather controversially, Hyundai has fitted an artificial sound generation system to mimic the internal combustion engine. The N Active Sound can provide a “futuristic EV sound but also ICE-like engine and exhaust sounds”. Sound comes from a 10-speaker sound system. Two of these speakers are external, meaning the Ioniq 5 N will try its hardest to copy the sound of conventional ICE vehicles, perhaps even the raucous i30 N? There’s even N e-shift function simulating the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission in the i30 N with artificial lurching to simulate gearchanges. A step too far? We’ll see.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is also 80mm longer, 50mm wider, and 20mm lower than the regular Ioniq 5 thanks to longer front and rear overhangs, as well as a reduced ride height. It also rides on massive 21-inch forged aluminium wheels wrapped in 275/35 R21 Pirelli P-Zero tyres.
The front is characterised by a meaner front grille, active aero shutters and a prominent N badge, while the rear features some air vents, and a large rear wing with an integrated triangular third brake light. Interestingly the Ioniq 5 N receives is a rear window wiper, where the regular Ioniq 5 does without one.
Hyundai says the Ioniq 5 N should be available with a total 10 exterior paint colours. These include:
- Performance Blue Matte
- Performance Blue
- Abyss Black Pearl
- Cyber Gray Metallic
- Ecotronic Gray Matte
- Ecotronic Gray
- Atlas White Matte
- Atlas White
- Gravity Gold Matte
- Soultronic Orange Pearl
Whether all of these will make their way to Australia remains to be seen.
The interior of the Ioniq 5 N has also been given a myriad of new sporty touches. The redesigned steering wheel features a bold N logo in the centre, two N buttons, which can activate specific customisable drive modes, the N Grin Boost button to activate the Ioniq 5 N’s full performance as well as a drive model selection button. Tech heads will love this thing.
There’s also a new fixed centre console, featuring knee pads and shin supports for track work. Up front, the seats are set 20mm lower than the regular car’s and look nice and sporty with their deep bolsters and there black and Performance Blue two-tone design.
There’s still no local pricing at this stage for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N will be priced from. The Ioniq 5 Epiq is the current range topper and starts from $84,981, before on-road costs. The Kia EV6 GT starts from $99,950 before on-road costs. Expect the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N to cost north of that. Stay tuned to DiscoverAuto for more content on the Ioniq 5 N as we edge closer to its local launch.
Keyword: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N revealed: A New Era for EV Performance