Hyundai Ioniq 5 N detailed

HYUNDAI has unveiled its 448kW all-electric sports car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed representing what it says is the N brand’s electrification future and “a new way for high-performance enthusiasts to electrify their passion for driving on road and track”.

The first electric N car carries the momentum of Hyundai’s sporting moniker into a new era, showing not only the strengths of its E-GMP platform, but also the high level of technology utilised to create a vehicle capable of delivering the same performance and handling attributes recognised across its ICE-powered N range.

Speaking on the Ioniq 5 N, Hyundai Motor Company president and CEO, Jaehoon Change, said the model is the first of many to come, and one that spearheads the brand’s goal of increasing its overall competitiveness in the electrified age.

“Hyundai N spearheads the technological leadership of Hyundai Motor Company,” he said.

“(The) 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 gamechanger 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.”

Leveraging lessons from “rolling labs” including the RM20e, RN22e and N Vision 74, the Ioniq 5 N uses motorsport-bred technologies to ensure it meets the N brand’s three performance pillars: ‘Corner Rascal,’ ‘Racetrack Capability’ and ‘Everyday Sportscar’.

“The Ioniq 5 N was developed to take driving fun to a new level by utilising the latest technologies available,” explained Hyundai Motor Company vice president and head of N brand and motorsport, Till Wartenberg.

“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.”

Compared to the derivative Ioniq 5, the body-in-white of the N-enhanced model features 42 additional welding points and some 2100mm of additional adhesives. The motor and battery mounting are reinforced while front and rear subframes are enhanced for lateral rigidity.

The integrated drive axles inspired by Hyundai’s participation in the World Rally Championship are applied both front and rear to endure stronger electric motor torque while reducing unsprung mass.

To enhance steering response and feedback, the Ioniq 5 N’s steering column has been strengthened for improved rigidity. Additionally, the vehicle features a specially tuned N R-MDPS (Rack-Mounted Motor-Driven Power Steering) system with a higher steering ratio and enhanced torque feedback.

Hyundai says these enhancements “result in a more direct and communicative steering experience that will instill greater confidence in drivers”.

An intelligent software function dubbed N Pedal is said to help “provide instant turn-in behavior and enhanced throttle sensitivity” by utilising the transfer of weight to improve corner entry characteristics.

The system may be used in tandem with the N Drift Optimiser function to help maintain the vehicle’s drift angle – an integrated Torque Kick Drift function allowing the driver to simulate the clutch kick action of rear-wheel-driven ICE vehicles for driving scenarios that “require more immediate drift initiation”.

Further, N Torque Distribution provides “fully variable front and rear torque distribution that can be adjusted to 11 levels”.

The e-LSD (electronic limited slip differential) at the rear axle optimises cornering performance and control, while additional wheel sensors and “broader damping capacity” widens the performance range of the electronically controlled suspension.

The powertrain of the Ioniq 5 N features a 21,000rpm redline providing 478kW/770Nm with N Grin Boost mode engaged. Hyundai says the added oomph comes from the use of a more efficient two-stage inverter that can better utilise power from the Ioniq 5 N’s new 84kWh battery.

Like many of the models in Hyundai’s ICE-powered N range, the all-electric Ioniq 5 N offers N Grin Boost mode and N Launch Control, and an EV-specific Track SOC (state-of-charge) mode that automatically calculates battery consumption per lap.

To further improve track performance – and more specifically, battery performance, the Ioniq 5 N offers an enhanced thermal management system with an increased cooling area, better motor oil cooler and battery chiller.

The independent radiators for the battery and motor are said to maximise the Ioniq 5 N’s resistance to performance degradation before and during intense track driving.

Before driving, the driver can utilise 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.

An N Race feature further optimises the EV’s endurance on the circuit, giving drivers more direct control over the car’s energy usage. It offers two “strategic” choices, Endurance or Sprint, said to “help drivers accurately manage their energy strategy and create an ideal performance window to achieve their driving performance targets”.

The Ioniq 5 N rides on forged 21-inch aluminum wheels that are shod with high-grip 275/35 Pirelli P-Zero tyres.

Stopping the Ioniq 5 N is the most powerful braking system Hyundai has yet offered in a production car.

It combines 400mm front rotors with four-piston monobloc callipers and 360mm rear discs. The brakes are constructed from “new, lightweight materials and includes a regenerative system to act not only as a primary braking force, but to also return charge to the model’s battery.

The system can supply up to 0.6G of decelerative force and remains engaged when the anti-lock braking system is in use. It also allows left-foot braking, making it ideal for track use.

On top of these functional systems, the Ioniq 5 N also includes “feeling and emotional” technologies aimed at improving driver engagement. These include N e-shift, which simulates the gear shift action of an ICE-powered car, and N Active Sound +, which delivers ICE-like exhaust sounds, replete with pops and crackles.

Visually, the Ioniq 5 N is characterised by “performance-enhancing design elements, such as contrasting black trim parts and a wing-type rear spoiler, which emphasise the sporty aspects of the standard model and maximize its circuit driving potential”.

It is also lower (-20mm), wider (+50mm) and longer (+80mm) than the derivative model, and differentiated by a N Mask graphic fascia with functional mesh and air curtains to meet the model’s additional cooling demands.

Further, a lip spoiler runs across the lower part of the bumper to “emphasise the model’s slow-slung stance and convey its performance intent”. At the rear, “the prominent, N-only wing-type spoiler helps control airflow to support optimal aerodynamic performance”.

Inside, the model features a number of N-specific elements, including the steering wheel, seats, door scuff panels and metal pedals.

The newly designed steering wheel prominently features the N logo for the first time, flanked by N buttons that set the desired drive mode, arranged to suit the driver’s preference. Driving modes can be customised and matched to each button in various combinations to maximise the vehicle’s performance.

The centre console is likewise optimised for track driving with knee pads and shin support, while the N seats have reinforced bolsters, and sit 20mm lower than those of the standard model.

Hyundai is set to offer more details of the Ioniq 5 N, including local specifications and pricing, closer to the model’s launch later this year.