Hyundai Motor has established a good reputation for manufacturing hot hatches by launching cars like the i20N and i30N. Now, the brand has gone ahead with the trend by building an all-electric performance hatch, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N which has made its official debut at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed. It is a more powerful and sporty iteration of the standard Ioniq 5 hatch and is the brand's first-ever performance EV. The Ioniq 5 N aims to ensure three performance pillars: ‘Corner Rascal,’ ‘Racetrack Capability’ and ‘Everyday Sportscar’.

The Ioniq 5 N is developed in collaboration between Hyundai's R&D centres in Namyang, South Korea, and Rüsselsheim, Germany, the European development centre, situated near the Nürburgring, and the circuit has played a crucial role in shaping this high-performance EV.

Highlights of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

The hatch is equipped with multiple performance-enhancing design elements on the outside. At the front, it features an N Mask graphic fascia with functional mesh, an air curtain and air flaps for proper cooling. The lower bumper lip spoiler and widened wheel arches, enhance its stance.

The Ioniq 5 N also gets N-specific ‘Luminous Orange’ strips running at the bottom of the front bumper, along the side skirts and around the rear bumper. The hatch has a wing-type rear spoiler. The twin U-shaped headlights at the front illuminate the road while at the back it gets twin rectangular taillamps.

Technical details of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

For the enthusiasts of fuel-powered vehicles who love to hear their engines roar and love the feel of changing gears manually, the marque has added n e-shift and n active sound with a ten-speaker system, eight placed inside the car and two outside to provide artificial sound. This allows drivers to choose from three distinct soundtracks: the rumble of a four-cylinder turbocharged engine from the i30N, the quiet hum typical of EVs, or a simulated rendition of a fighter jet.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is driven by a dual-motor setup, paired with N e-shift, powers all four wheels and generates 641 horsepower and 770Nm in N grin boost mode, a boost in power compared to the Kia EV6 GT which shares the same platform. The Korean hatch accelerates from 0 to 100kmph in just 3.4 seconds and has a top speed of 259kmph. 

The car is equipped with separate radiators for the batteries and both motors and before driving the driver can pre-condition the battery cells to suit the intended use. It seamlessly combines regenerative and hydraulic braking systems, enabling the use of both brakes and throttle simultaneously for left-foot braking. This approach aligns with Hyundai's objective of encouraging traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) drivers to transition to the Ioniq 5 N while retaining their familiar driving techniques.

It comes with additional features like N Battery Preconditioning, N Race, N Pedal, N Brake Regen, N Drift Optimizer, N Torque Distribution, N Launch Control, N Grin Boost, N Active Sound +, N e-shift, N Road Sense and Track SOC.

The car suggests engaging N mode at a double-curve road sign. The throttle pedal prioritizes response over efficiency, and aggressive weight transfer sharpens corner entry when easing off the throttle. It offers a drift optimizer mode for maintaining a consistent angle during drifting and a Torque Kick Drift function that simulates a clutch kick in petrol-powered cars.

A word from Hyundai Officials

Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company said, “Hyundai N spearheads the technological leadership of Hyundai Motor Company. N brand’s winning combination of technological know-how and motorsport experience is pushing the limits of vehicle performance, which has most recently resulted in Ioniq 5 N, a game-changer for electric high performance. Key developments around this vehicle will further strengthen the competitiveness of all Hyundai models going forward. This is why N brand exists.”

Till Wartenberg, Vice President and Head of N Brand and Motorsport at Hyundai Motor Company said, “Ioniq 5 N, was developed to take driving fun to a new level by utilizing the latest technologies available. Starting with Ioniq 5 N, N brand aims to deliver N’s signature fun driving experience regardless of petrol, electric or hydrogen. To accomplish this, we’ve closely monitored the voices of our N fans in order to fine-tune our first all-electric N with the goal of electrifying the driving passion of our most demanding N-thusiasts.”

Do read our latest article on the Porsche Vision 357 Speedster's debut at the Goodwood Festival Of Speed!