Details Released for New Hyundai IONIQ 5 N

27th Oct 2023

By Chris Russon

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The high performance version of the all-electric Hyundai IONIQ 5 will be priced from £65,000, the Korean carmaker has announced.

The IONIQ 5 N is the first battery powered N model in Hyundai’s line-up, and it comes with a series of modifications to give it true track and road potential.

There are also some electrical enhancements to create the handling and driving characteristics for which Hyundai’s N models have become famed.

These include an N Pedal function to improve turn-in ability, a drift optimiser and N Torque Distribution which can vary front and rear torque settings in 11 ways.

There’s also a special gear shift pattern to mimic the gear changes of a conventional gearbox, which is hooked up to an active sound system that creates the noise of a performance vehicle inside and out.

As a result, the IONIQ N’s motor can spin up to 21,000rpm and deliver 601bhp of power which can be uprated to 641bhp for 10 seconds if the ‘Grin Boost’ mode is engaged allowing for a launch control set up with three different settings for fast starts.

Performance figures are a 0 to 62mph acceleration of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 161mph, which puts the IONIQ 5 N in the same league as the Porsche Taycan.

Recharging to 80 percent capacity can be done is as little as 18 minutes from an ultra-fast charger, while charging from a regular home wallbox will take around 11.5 hours.

The car sits 20mm lower than the regular IONIQ 5 and is 50mm wider and 80mm longer to accommodate bigger tyres and a more prominent diffuser.

At the front, there is a redesigned graphic facia with functional mesh along with air curtain and active air flaps for extra cooling with a lip spoiler that runs across the lower part of the bumper to emphasize the car’s slow-slung stance and convey its performance credentials while at the rear there is a wing-like spoiler.

Uprated brakes and suspension are other characteristics, while inside the cockpit has been optimised for track driving to provide additional comfort and support as well as ease of operation.

An addition of a centre console fitted with both knee pads and shin support is designed to add driver bracing under hard cornering while the car is fitted with N bucket seats finished in leather and Alcantara and have reinforced bolsters to provide lateral support during sharp cornering, while the seat frames are positioned 20mm lower compared to the standard specification model.

Additional new technology has been embedded with the Digital Centre Mirror, which allows the driver to switch between a conventional mirror or a digital screen with a feed from a camera mounted under the rear spoiler for an increased horizontal rearview with a 50-degree angle compared to the 20-degree field of an optical mirror.

The steering wheel has been redesigned to allow for N buttons for the various drive modes, while side paddles are fitted to control the N e-shift and N Pedal features.

The IONIQ 5 N is also the latest model to receive Hyundai’s updated CCnC Navigation system, which features faster processing, new graphical interfaces and an N dedicated screen for N customer mode settings and data logging.

It is also the first IONIQ model to feature wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and comes with a head up display that uses augmented reality special to the N model.

Ashley Andrew, president of Hyundai Motor UK, said: “IONIQ 5 N is truly the first EV for the driving enthusiast, combining not just high performance and precision handling but also using state-of-the-art technology to provide an emotional connection so far missing in performance EV’s.”

“IONIQ 5 N uses an array of tools to provide a driver centric driving experience whenever desired, as well as the ability of becoming a quiet, comfortable and efficient zero emission family SUV at the flick of a mode button.”

Prices correct as of 27/10/2023 and are subject to change.