Unleashing the Beast: A Deep Dive into the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

The moment I first learned about the plan for Hyundai to launch an N model of their Ioniq 5, I could not help being curious. What is a hot hatch from Hyundai and powered by electricity? Well, it sounds like something which does not exist at all, a nice contradiction. But let me assure you that after some time with all the specifications and engineers' revelations, I am no longer in doubt. This is not just Ioniq 5 with a few extra horses, it is entirely redesigned performance car.

The Heart of the Beast: Performance and Power

Numbers speak louder than words, so let's start our discussion there. The Ioniq 5 N is one hell of a beast. This car features a dual-motor system with all-wheel drive and generates a monstrous 600 hp (448 kW) when driving normally. However, once you press the N Grin Boost button, this baby will have 641 hp (478 kW) and 545 lb-ft (740 Nm) of torque for 10 seconds. This means that it takes only 3.4 seconds to reach 60 mph from standstill. Now you can imagine that we're talking about supercar-like figures, but in a family crossover! 

• N Grin Boost: Temporary power boost for maximum acceleration. 
• Dual Motor AWD: Optimal power distribution and traction. 
• 84 kWh battery: Made to provide both performance and efficiency.

It's the thought about the experience that impressed me in Hyundai. Take the N e-shift feature for example. It mimics the experience of an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, recreating gear shifts and even adding a jolt when you 'shift'. Of course, it is not necessary in an electric vehicle, but it makes driving experience quite different. Not to mention N Active Sound+ – the feature that will add your choice of sounds to your driving experience, whether it will be a simulation of the internal combustion engine or a fighter jet engine sound. Again, it is an excellent solution to one of the most frequent criticism of EV from enthusiasts – lack of noise.

Chassis and Handling: Made for the Race Track

Without the control, all power in the world won't do anything. This is the thing that N division of Hyundai fully understood. The company made serious upgrades to the chassis, adding 42 more welding points and 2.1 meters of additional structure adhesive. This significantly increased the rigidity of the car.

Suspension and Steering

The suspension of the car includes N-specific adaptive dampers, much more rigid compared to the usual dampers of the Ioniq 5. The lowered ride height and new geometry make the car corner more stable. In my opinion, you will feel the difference immediately as soon as the car attacks some turns. Another thing which has been modified is the steering. It is powered by the rack-mounted motor-driven power steering (R-MDPS) with N-specific tuning. That is why it is expected to provide better feedback to the driver.

Braking Power

But stopping is not less important. According to the manufacturer, the Ioniq 5 N is equipped with the largest brakes among all Hyundai cars. It is 15.75 inches (400 mm) for the front disc brake with four-piston calipers and 14.2 inches (360 mm) for the rear ones. Such brakes are necessary in order not to experience any fading during repeated hard stops while racing on the track. Moreover, the N Brake Regen system provides the capacity of up to 0.6 G deceleration and can be adjusted for track driving in order to reduce the friction brakes wear.

Design: Aggressive, Functional, N-Tastic

As soon as you lay your eyes on the Ioniq 5 N, you realize that it is special. It inherits the Ioniq 5's signature retro-futuristic look but enhances it through aggressive N-exclusive design elements. It is wider, lower, and more menacing than ever.

Exterior Design Changes: Wider fenders, N-exclusive bumpers with increased cooling air intakes, a large rear wing for downforce generation, and flashy orange accents.

Interior Changes: There are special N branded sports seats in the cabin offering better support, N-exclusive steering wheel with dedicated N buttons to control various drive modes and N Grin Boost, and N-exclusive graphics on infotainment and instrument cluster displays.

It is obvious that they paid attention to the driver interaction experience. I like how they did not simply apply an N label but took care of everything.

Innovative N-Specific Technologies

And here we come to the part when Ioniq 5 N really stands out from all other performance-oriented EVs. The manufacturer has created a number of features that are completely new and revolutionary:

N Drift Optimizer: With the help of this technology, it becomes easier to perform drifting maneuvers, balancing torque between the front and rear wheels at the same time. I just can't wait to try this feature on the track.

N Torque Distribution: Full variable torque distribution between the front and rear wheels. Drivers can individually configure the torque ratio according to their preferences or track conditions.

N Race: Two modes are available - "Endurance" and "Sprint". In "Endurance", the peak power is limited to prolong the range on the track; the "Sprint" mode gives full access to the power of the car, which will come in handy during qualifying laps.

N Battery Pre-conditioning: This intelligent technology preheats or pre-cools the battery to reach the ideal temperature for "Drag" (maximum power of a short period of time) or "Track" (high power for a prolonged time) performance.

This isn't just a show-off. It is a highly complex technology that is aimed at squeezing the best out of the electric power train. In my opinion, Hyundai tries to make EVs interesting for classic petrol heads and succeeds at it impressively.

Electric Hot Hatch: More than Speed

And what is it really like to drive it? From everything I have learned, it is absolutely mind-blowing. It isn't only the acceleration, but also the corner attack, the precision of steering and sound profile. This is an electric car that reacts to your every command. The thing is that N Division of Hyundai doesn't only create a quick electric car, but an electric car that feels alive. I'm talking not only about its performance in the track, where it can compete with much more experienced models, but about the fun of driving through the twisties.

Of course, I have to mention its practical side as well. The vehicle is going to maintain the comfort of the Ioniq 5's interior along with sufficient trunk space, making it possible to use it as a sporty commuter that from time to time transforms into a racecar. No exact numbers are out yet, but with an 84 kWh battery and Hyundai's efficient E-GMP platform, the range should be pretty impressive even with all those performance capabilities.

It's a great moment for performance EVs as such a car is going to show that there's more to electric vehicles than their fast acceleration. They can have some soul and personality, and this is something that will blow people away and change all perceptions on what an electric car should be. The car from Hyundai will definitely do the trick.