Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Debuts At Goodwood Festival Of Speed

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N makes its world debut today at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex, England. The all-electric Ioniq 5 N is the first electric vehicle from the South Korean carmaker to receive motorsport-bred hardware from Hyundai’s Namyang engineers. Built on the company’s award-winning E-GMP platform, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N joins the company’s long-standing legacy of offering high-quality driver-focused N models.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N benefits from a new 84 kWh battery that develops 641 bhp with N Grin Boost engaged to increase energy efficiency for stronger power output. Its electric motors spin up to 21,000 rpm via the N e-shift and a two-stage inverter, which in turn maximises acceleration by a power increment of 10 seconds, while N Launch Control provides three different traction levels for the fastest possible start.

Since N models tend to put extreme strain on their powertrains for maximum performance, Hyundai has developed new thermal management especially for the Ioniq N to take on severe racetrack conditions with a higher resistance to heat-induced power degradation without any loss of maximum power due to overheating. To handle this, the Ioniq 5 N wears a pair of 21-inch aluminum wheels that are wrapped in high-grip 275/35 R21 Pirelli P-Zero tyres.

Moreover, a driver can engage the N Battery Pre-conditioning to optimise the battery cells for maximum efficiency by choosing between ‘Drag’ mode for a short burst of full power or ‘Track’ mode for the lowest possible battery temperature allowing more laps without compromising on performance. While this type of setting change would normally require a team of mechanics and equipment, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N offers it with a few button presses.

Since the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a high-performance, track-focussed EV, the company ensured that the N-tuned brakes are optimised equally. It features 400 mm diameter front discs with four-piston monobloc calipers and 360 mm rear discs, constructed with new lightweight materials to optimise airflow for improved cooling efficiency. Additionally, the regenerative braking system also aids in braking as it serves as the primary source of brake force, while the mechanical brakes supplement additional braking force when required, ensuring enhanced endurance on the track.

Since N models tend to be loud, with the Ioniq 5 EV, Hyundai has developed the N Active Sound+ paired with transmission unit to enhance the driving experience by creating a more engaging and exciting sensory experience for the driver incorporating a 10-speaker system that offers three distinct sound themes- Ignition, Evolution and Supersonic. To ensure safety, Hyundai has loaded the Ioniq 5 N with N Road Sense, which automatically recommends the activation of N Mode when double-curved road signs are detected. However, it is only offered with EU models.

Design-wise, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N has clear sights of a typical N model that screams high performance. At the front, there is an N-mask graphic fascia with functional mesh along with an air curtain and air flaps for extra cooling. A lip spoiler runs across the lower part of the bumper to emphasize the car’s low-slung stance. The EV N-exclusive ‘Luminous Orange’ at the bottom of the black front bumper cover continues along the side skirts, giving the Ioniq 5 N a racetrack-ready look.

At the back, the Ioniq 5 N features a prominent N-only wing-type spoiler, along with an orange-accented rear diffuser and air outlet to control airflow. Integrated in the spoiler is a triangular N-only HMSL brake light. Below the rear hatch is an N-exclusive black bumper cover with checker flag reflector graphics. There is also a rear window wiper.

Inside, the Ioniq 5 N features the newly designed N steering wheel with the N logo, flanked by N buttons that set the desired drive mode. The N Grin Boost button is positioned at 3 o’clock while the paddle shifters are positioned at the driver’s fingertips to engage N e-shift and N Pedal features. The N bucket seats are positioned about 20 mm lower compared to the basic specification.