Hyundai’s first high-performance all-electric model, the Ioniq 5 N, broke cover last month, with the company saying the car represents its N brand’s ‘electrification future and a new way for high-performance enthusiasts to electrify their passion for driving on road and track.’
Built on the E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform) platform with extra tech, the Ioniq 5 N leverages the brand’s expertise built up through the development of its electrified ‘rolling lab’ models such as the RN22e and N Vision 74, and its dual motor powertrain kicks out 478kW when using the N Grin Boost mode. An 84kWh battery supplies the energy and with a charge speed up to 350kW that battery can, Hyundai says, be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in 18 minutes.
Performance is, of course, the point of the N brand, and the Ioniq 5 N can sprint to 100km/h in 3.4 seconds (with Boost) and reach a top speed of 260km/h. Beyond that are the extra, enticing bits of tech and features that make the car stand out.
Features include 21-inch aluminium wheels wrapped in 275/35R21 Pirelli P-Zero tyres and body and chassis reinforcements that provide higher torsional rigidity and direct steering feel, enabling the car to be a ‘corner rascal’, with rally-inspired dual-motor AWD cornering. Other features include 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.
N Grin Boost maximises acceleration by a power increment of 10 seconds and N Launch Control provides three different traction levels.
The driver can use N Battery Pre-conditioning to optimise the battery cells to the most power-efficient temperature by choosing between ‘Drag’ mode for a short burst of full power or ‘Track’ mode that optimises the lowest possible battery temperature for more laps. The N Race feature further optimises the EV’s endurance on the circuit, while N Pedal prioritises fast cornering over energy efficiency.
N Drift Optimizer is designed to help maintain drift angle by balancing multiple vehicle controls responding to real-time inputs, and N Torque Distribution provides fully variable front and rear torque distribution that can be adjusted to 11 levels.
N Brake Regen offers up to a maximum of 0.6 G decelerative force.
Hyundai say performance enthusiasts should be pleased with the N e-shift and N Active Sound + functions. N e-shift simulates the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) of internal combustion engine N cars while N Active Sound+ is paired with N e-shift and incorporates a 10-speaker system that offers three sound themes and creates ‘a more engaging and exciting sensory experience for the driver.’
IONIQ 5 N’s interior reflect its performance credentials, with N-branded elements, including the steering wheel – which has buttons that can be configured to control certain functions and modes – seats, door scuff panels and metal pedals and more.
The centre console is optimised for track driving with knee pads and shin support as well as a sliding armrest. The N seats have reinforced bolsters, and the pedals are optimised for foot contact in track scenarios that involved oversteer, drifting and power slides, reducing the risk of foot slippage in two-foot driving.
Rather more pedestrian, but equally welcome, features include a C-type USB, a wireless charger and cupholders, and plenty of sustainable materials used for the trim, while available exterior colours are Performance Blue Matte, Performance Blue, Abyss Black Pearl, Cyber Gray Metallic, Ecotronic Gray Matte, Ecotronic Gray, Atlas White Matte, Atlas White, Gravity Gold Matte and Soultronic Orange Pearl.
The Ioniq 5 N is reportedly going to be available in Australia in 2024.
Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (August 2023)
30 August 2023
