Hyundai Challenges the Tesla Model S Plaid with Its IONIQ 5 N

With IONIQ 5 N, Hyundai invites enthusiasts to fully experience the passion of driving on both road and track in the age of electrification.

Hyundai has built its vision of sporty electric driving on three pillars: agility in turns, circuit capabilities, and qualities of a daily sports car.

In 2015, the N badge showcased its vision for a sustainable future for the next generation of car enthusiasts by presenting its N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo concept car. The N division’s electrification strategy began with the RM20e prototype and the Veloster N ETCR, Hyundai’s first electric race car. In 2022, the N label revealed the RN22e, a rolling laboratory embodying N division’s electrification expertise in Hyundai’s first series electric vehicle, the IONIQ 5 N.

An all-wheel drive system with two electric motors directly inspired by Hyundai’s rally experience forms the core of this high-performance electric vehicle. Hyundai’s fourth-generation 84 kWh battery provides higher power output thanks to a dual-level inverter with optimized efficiency, while enabling the electric motors to operate up to 21,000 rpm and develop 478 kW / 650 hp when the N Grin Boost function is activated. Forged aluminum 21-inch wheels are the naturally sporty extensions of a chassis built around the reinforced and stiffened E-GMP platform.

The IONIQ 5 N features several exclusive functions that guarantee exceptional performance on the track. The N Grin Boost function maximizes acceleration by providing a power surge for 10 seconds, and the N Launch Control system offers three different traction levels for the fastest possible starts from standstill, allowing the driver to launch the vehicle like a professional racing driver. The Track SOC (state-of-charge) function automatically calculates the battery’s energy consumption per lap. Additionally, the integrated Torque Kick Drift function allows the driver to simulate, at the wheel of this high-performance EV, the clutch engagement usually performed with a combustion-powered vehicle, enabling faster initiation of drifting in driving situations that require quick response.

To better meet the demands of frequent braking on the track, Hyundai N engineers developed the N Brake Regen system, specially designed to optimize the braking capabilities of the IONIQ 5 N. This regenerative braking system alone can deliver a maximum deceleration force of 0.6 G – an industry-unmatched performance – and remains active in case of ABS intervention, where its deceleration force reaches up to 0.2 G.

Finally, two systems can be activated to replicate the driving sensations of a thermal model. The N e-shift system reproduces the sensations provided by the eight-speed dual-clutch (DCT) transmissions of the N models with internal combustion engines by controlling torque levels and recreating the jerks experienced during gear changes. The N Active Sound+ system comprises 10 speakers (eight inside and two outside) to deliver even more gratifying and exhilarating driving sensations. It is designed to produce a reference sound allowing drivers to accurately gauge the power level used, just as they were accustomed to on traditional N models with internal combustion engines.