Hyundai Ioniq N revealed as firm’s first sporty electric car

Hyundai is looking to inject some fun into the electric car segment by revealing the Ioniq 5 N.

Unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed by Hyundai’s global boss Jaehoon Chang, the Ioniq 5 N arrives as the latest model in the firm’s ‘N’ division, following highly-acclaimed performance cars like the i20 N and i30 N.

Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 reached showrooms in 2021 and was the first model to be based around the firm’s EV-only ‘e-GMP’ platform, which has gone on to be used in the Kia EV6 and Genesis GV60. This production ‘N’ model, which has been heavily teased in recent months, builds on the firm’s electrified concept cars.

Using a dual motor powertrain, the 5 N is all-wheel-drive and boasts a huge 641bhp, which allows for a 0-60mph time of just 3.2 seconds in ‘Boost’ mode and a top speed of 162mph. It also packs a new 84kWh battery (up from 77kWh in the standard Ioniq 5). Though no range figure has been given, Hyundai claims it can rapid charge from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes.

But Hyundai says there’s a lot more to the 5 N than just its statistics, with a whole host of changes being made to maximise driving pleasure. Boasting a stiffer chassis, the steering column has also been strengthened and there’s also a new regenerative braking function that aims to bolster this Hyundai’s track capability and stopping performance.

A specific sound has also been developed, which Hyundai says is ‘designed for drivers to have better control of the power’. The most notable is an ‘Ignition’ sound, which aims to replicate the feel of a turbocharged petrol engine, with ‘gearshifts’ even engineered in. There’s also a ‘Supersonic’ sound that offers a similar sound to a fighter jet.

In terms of design, the ‘N’ gets noticeably more aggressive styling than the standard Ioniq 5. It’s lower, wider and longer, while at the front it gets a new two-tone look and additional cooling. There are 21-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero performance tyres too, while the rear gets a noticeable spoiler along with various orange-coloured accents.

Moving inside, while the N retains the standard car’s tech-heavy cabin, it boasts new sports seats with reinforced bolsters to keep passengers held in place during hard cornering. A sports steering wheel also aims to allow the driver to control everything with their hands on the wheel while driving.

Till Wartenberg, vice president of the N brand and Hyundai’s motorsport, said: “The new Ioniq 5 N elevates the brand to a new playing field. It will be a game-changer.

“The future of car culture is brighter than ever. The issue was never the demise of petrol, just our courage and imagination.”

There’s no word on when the Ioniq 5 will arrive in the UK, but it’s likely to priced from around £65,000 when it goes on sale.