Hyundai teases first high performance Ioniq 5 on iconic race track

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N has been teased on track while undertaking final testing ahead of its world premiere. The “N” vehicles are traditionally the performance variants of Hyundai’s ICE vehicles. 

With the brand having ambitious EV transition plans, it makes sense for the N variants of its all-electric models to head in that direction as well.

“The Nürburgring is where every N model is honed to the Nth degree, so our first high-performance, all-electric N model must also prove itself here,” said Till Wartenberg, Vice President and Head of N Brand & Motorsport at Hyundai Motor Co.

The company has done significant high-endurance racetrack testing on the Ioniq 5 N, according to Mr Wartenberg:

“Ioniq 5 N just completed its 10,000km durability test on the Nordschleife, which is an important milestone that proves the vehicle’s high endurance and racetrack capability. And yet, we just began our second 10,000km test to push Ioniq 5 N’s limits.”

Hyundai is doing this by using motorsport-focused hardware that’s paired with software for increasing the endurance of this EV. Along with that, the Ioniq 5 N will include a more powerful braking system.

Endurance is increased by having better cooling on the drivetrain motor and the battery, Part of that has also been the inclusion of a new heat management options which Hyundai calls “N Battery Preconditioning” and “N Race”.

The battery preconditions function on the car has two modes, a “Drag” mode and a “Track” mode. In the “Drag” mode, maximum power is delivered meanwhile the “Track” mode, the car is set for endurance to do more laps.

The “N Race” gives various performance modes to the driver for sprint or endurance driving.

Looking at the braking of the Ioniq 5 N, a better regenerative braking system and larger 400 mm diameter hydraulic brake discs made out of lighter materials.

According to Hyundai, to improve the driving experience for performance vehicle enthusiasts, three different sound themes are on offer. These include Ignition, Evolution and Supersonic.

The Ioniq 5 N is based on Hyundai’s Electrified-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) platform which is shared by Hyundai’s other Ioniq series models which include the very popular Ioniq 5 SUV and the more recently launched, Ioniq 6 streamliner sedan. 

The Ioniq 5 N will have its world premiere in July at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Teaser