Hyundai Ioniq 5 N: This family electric SUV has 641hp, drift mode and can simulate gearshifts (VIDEO)

KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 — The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N has finally been revealed and this is an insane high-performance version of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric SUV. The Ioniq 5 N is also Hyundai N’s first EV and it is more insane than the Kia EV6 GT.

Being a driver-focused high-performance EV, the Ioniq 5 N gets more radical upgrades as well as cosmetic changes. The dual-motors can spin up to 21,000rpm and it delivers an incredible 478kW (641hp) and 770Nm of torque when the N Grin Boost is engaged. It can do 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 260km/h. This is made possible with its two-stage inverter and it also gets a bigger 84kWh battery. Based on the same e-GMP platform, it also runs on an 800V architecture and it can also do 10-80% DC fast charging in just 18 minutes.

Besides offering more performance, Hyundai has also introduced several improvements and enhanced features to make this a fun EV to drive on the track. It gets several exclusive performance features such as N Grin Boost which provides extra power for 10 seconds, N Launch Control which offers 3 different traction levels and N Drift Optimiser to help you maintain the drift angle. It also gets an integrated Torque Kick Drift function to provide a simulation of a clutch kick action of a rear-wheel-drive internal combustion engine (ICE) car.

For a more exhilarating driving experience, there’s also an N e-shift feature which simulates an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). The gearshift sensation is simulated by controlling the motor torque output which creates a jolt feeling between shifts. According to Hyundai, this provides a more precise and interactive driving experience that feels close to ICE cars.

There’s also a new thermal management system that offers higher resistance to heat-induced power degradation so that you get sustained performance while doing laps. The Ioniq 5 N also gets N-tuned brakes which include 400mm front discs with four-piston monoblock callipers and 360mm rear discs. The regen braking for the Ioniq 5 N is also “reinterpreted” to enhance braking performance.

For even more fun, Hyundai has also added N Active Sound+ which pipes in synthetic engine and exhaust sounds for a more engaging experience. What’s more insane is that the sound is also emitted outside the car as it has 8 internal and 2 external speakers. Besides the more traditional sounding Ignition theme which mimics a 2.0-litre turbo engine, there’s also Evolution with sounds inspired by the RN22e and “Supersonic” which is inspired by twin-engine fighter jets with variable volume during cornering.

Unlike the Kia EV6 GT, the interior of the Ioniq 5 N gets a more substantial performance-oriented makeover. It gets a different steering with the N badge and there are dedicated N buttons to set drive modes as well as a dedicated N Grin Boost button. It still gets paddle shifters to engage the N e-shift and N pedal, while the twisty stalk for drive selection is still retained from the normal Ioniq 5.

Gone is the practical movable centre island as the Ioniq 5 N gets a fixed lower centre console with knee pads and shin support. What’s interesting is that the car now uses USB-C for charging and connectivity, which is a notable tech upgrade from the standard Ioniq 5. It also retains two large displays and this time it gets black bezels. The digital instrument clusters have a different UI from the standard Ioniq 5 and it can even show a virtual RPM gauge for a more ICE-like experience.

Being a performance-oriented vehicle, it also gets N bucket seats which are placed 20mm lower while the foot pedal placements are also optimised for track driving scenarios including two-foot driving. Similar to the standard Ioniq 5, the N model still uses sustainable materials and retains a practical boot which allows this performance EV to perform double duty as a family car. Another nice addition is a rear wiper, which was missing on the normal Ioniq 5.

While it still retains the same 3,000mm wheelbase, the N model sits 20mm lower, is 50mm wider and 80mm longer to accommodate wider tyres and a more prominent diffuser. There’s also extra air curtain and air flaps for cooling and also additional lip spoilers that run across the lower part of the front bumper.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is offered in a total of 10 colours — 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. Whichever colour you pick, the interior comes in black with performance blue accents.

At the moment, Hyundai has yet to provide any pricing details for its high-performance EV. The Ioniq 5 N is expected to be released in South Korea sometime in September and it will be heading to Europe later this year. Wider global availability will be announced later.

In case you missed it, you can check out our review of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 Max in Malaysia. Hyundai Sime Darby Motors is also releasing the Ioniq 6 to our market soon as they have dropped teasers of the coupe-ish electric sedan. — SoyaCincau