More Than Just Huge Power

In an age the place electrified efficiency is as straightforward as transferring a slider or turning a knob, the place pace is a query of how rapidly you possibly can shuttle ions from anode to cathode, it is truthfully somewhat exhausting to get enthusiastic about one more large, heavy, dual-motor electrical automobile with an ungodly quantity of energy. 

Take the Kia EV6 GT, for instance. Nice as it’s, it feels a bit disconnected at instances. It is stupidly quick, certain, nevertheless it’s additionally a bit boring. Kia added the facility however forgot about the remainder of the expertise, the particular touchpoints and tweaks that manufacturers like BMW’s M division or Mercedes-Benz’s AMG have become cottage industries.

Provided that, I did not know what to anticipate from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Extra energy, certain, however wouldn’t it really feel particular? Or wouldn’t it simply really feel like an even bigger hammer? 

Because it seems, Hyundai N’s efficiency engineers went method above and past to create a automotive that legitimately does really feel particular—rowdy even, whereas nonetheless delivering all of the excellence of the bottom Ioniq 5. 

The Full Package deal

Let’s get the numbers out of the best way first as a result of, spectacular as they’re, they’re the least attention-grabbing half about this automotive. The Ioniq 5 N is formally rated at 641 horsepower and 545 pound-feet of torque. That energy determine is precisely twice what the base Ioniq 5 places down, a reality that may’t be a coincidence.

That energy comes courtesy of recent electrical motors entrance and rear, 223 hp to the entrance and 378 on the rear, every ready to enter an overboost mode for 10 seconds to rise up to that 641 hp determine. 

They’re powered by an entirely new battery pack rated at 84 kWh. That is up about 7 kWh over the bottom automotive, a determine that appears hardly definitely worth the effort of designing an entirely new pack. However then there are a lot of points of the Ioniq 5 N that appear like they’d ship doubtful quantities of return on funding, like the additional seam welding and adhesive to spice up chassis rigidity or the bolstered axles. And whereas Hyundai hasn’t given us vary or effectivity estimates but, you could be certain each might be lower than a regular Ioniq 5. 

Taken in isolation, every of those minor tweaks feels a bit pointless, fiddling for fiddling’s sake, but when nothing else, it exhibits the microscopic consideration to element dropped at the desk by Hyundai’s engineers in creating one thing greater than the aforementioned larger hammer. 

The Ioniq 5’s suspension has additionally seen complete revisions, with bigger dampers fitted at each nook to offer a broader unfold between gentle and agency. An electronically activated, clutch-type, mechanical limited-slip differential on the rear ensures that the 282 kW motor on the again does not liquidate the within tire popping out of corners. 

The entrance diff is open, however the automotive’s stability and traction programs have been comprehensively revised to allow it to do some fundamental torque vectoring by braking the within wheel. 

Fantastic Toys

The software program modifications prolong all through all of the programs underneath the proverbial hood, however they current themselves in quite a few further options out there to the driving force. It begins with the steering wheel, which options not solely a drive mode button on the upper-left but in addition two extra mode buttons, each labeled N.

The left N button cycles by way of a number of totally different performance-minded driving modes. You may configure all these to your specs — as long as your specs entail a raucous, rowdy expertise. The fitting N button dials up the societal nuisance issue even additional by toggling by way of certainly one of three faux engine noises, performed not solely contained in the cabin however outdoors the automotive, too. There’s even a faux shifting expertise, which you’ll be able to learn all about right here.

Lastly, there is a shiny purple button that sits tantalizingly near your proper thumb. An attractive, shiny button labeled NGB: N Grin Enhance. Press this, and also you get these 10 seconds of most energy, during which the automotive turns into most aggressive, most offended, and lightning fast. Faucet this to get to the launch management rapidly, however be sure you warn your passengers to place their head on the headrest earlier than you are taking your foot off the brake.

The customizations proceed by way of to the touchscreen interface, the place a selected N web page permits you to cycle by way of limitless configurable parameters, with toggles for enabling a track-oriented regen mode known as N Pedal, an N Race part the place you possibly can toggle between most energy for a single lap or extra endurance, and even the N Drift Optimizer, for many who want somewhat assist getting sideways. 

Probably the most tantalizing factor on this web page, although, is the N Torque Distribution slider that permits you to management the automotive’s energy distribution. Go away it within the center for optimum energy from each motors. Desire a FWD Ioniq 5 N? Slide it to the left. Desire a style of RWD motion? Slide all of it the best way to the best—and prepare to do some sliding of one other type. 

All these toggles and buttons are initially overwhelming and disorienting, method too many choices to get by way of in your first drive. Truthfully, although, I adore it. This was my largest criticism in regards to the EV6 GT: There simply wasn’t a single iota of performance-oriented customization to the automotive’s consumer interface. If something, Hyundai’s gone somewhat too far in throwing a kitchen sink filled with sliders and choices on the Ioniq 5 N. Nonetheless, tech-obsessed consumers, those that’ve spent extra time than they prefer to admit fidgeting with setups in Gran Turismo, will adore the reconfigurability. 

Behind The Wheel

Should you’ve by no means had the prospect to drive in Korea, let me guarantee you that you simply’re not lacking a lot. Terminally sluggish pace limits (30 kph, or 19 mph, in lots of cities) enforced by limitless pace cameras popping away at limitless gridlock make for an underwhelming place to helm the wheel. Provided that, I discovered little in regards to the Ioniq 5 N’s extra performance-oriented on-road dynamics whereas in Korea.

Nevertheless, I did study that it is nonetheless a wonderfully civilized method to get from A to B, identical to its non-N variant. Experience high quality is not terribly compromised by these low-profile 275/35R21 Pirelli P Zero tires, although they bring about extra street noise to the get together. The suede microfiber seats are nonetheless fairly snug for large miles (and we did a whole lot of miles), whereas the newest model of Hyundai’s Freeway Drive Help works nicely on the freeway, maintaining the automotive centered within the lane and robotically stopping and resuming when caught in site visitors.

Fortunately, the vacation spot of our lengthy grind of a journey was Korea Worldwide Circuit, residence of the doomed Korean Components One Grand Prix from 2010 to 2013. Mom Nature is clearly reclaiming this huge, ill-fated observe. Vines crawl up lots of the disused grandstands. Solar-faded banners characteristic the distinctive, walrus-tusked F1 automobiles of the period, which fortunately have not been seen since.

Beneath-used although the circuit could also be, it was an excellent likelihood to lastly flip up the wick on the Ioniq 5 N. Whereas my time on the observe was too transient to know whether or not the automotive delivers on its promised endurance. It was sufficient, nonetheless, to find out that the 5 N has a pleasant, playful character to it.

Within the default mode, Regular, the Ioniq 5 N is quick however in the end a bit tame and fast to reign in issues everytime you begin to have a little bit of enjoyable. Simply give a faucet to the N button and the whole lot modifications.

Now, the automotive needs to play. The accelerator is extra keen, naturally, however the stiffer suspension imparts extra urgency if you head for the apex, and all of it culminates in way more enjoyable on the best way out. Even with the steadiness and traction controls nicely and actually enabled, the Ioniq 5 N gladly wags its tail underneath full-throttle acceleration, and that is a pleasant factor.

Activate the N Pedal mode, which amps up the regen so as to add a kind of everlasting trail-braking, and issues get much more lurid. Right here, I used to be in a position to get the automotive right into a correctly good slide popping out of the tightest bend on the circuit. This, once more, was with the steadiness management nonetheless enabled.

The automotive undoubtedly had a robust tendency in direction of understeer. That at the least partly comes all the way down to weight. Hyundai did not quote a proper determine for the 5 N however did say it weighs greater than an everyday Ioniq 5, which clocks in at round 4,000 kilos in AWD trim. Provided that mass, you possibly can’t anticipate a lot in the best way of nimbleness on the observe. Nonetheless, the 5 N was remarkably playful, a legitimately good time.

Each little drift was easy to catch, only a fast twist of the quickened steering. Braking, too, is exact, regardless of having no mechanical connection between your foot and people calipers. It is a full brake-by-wire system, so the automotive’s ECU decides how a lot braking to use in response to your command.

The 5 N can pull as much as 0.6 G underneath regeneration alone, which will get you many of the method there. However, if you ask for extra, the automotive seamlessly brings within the four-piston monobloc calipers on the entrance and extra modest single-piston items on the rear to assist reign issues in. It’s going to even allow you to brake and throttle on the similar time, a helpful method for low-grip racing that I’ve by no means been in a position to deploy on an EV earlier than. 

So the brand new N is quick and competent, and that is all nice, however what’s extra essential is its endurance. Too many high-power EVs can ship wonderful efficiency numbers solely over quick intervals. However, push them exhausting, and so they quickly begin chopping energy. 

Hyundai N technical advisor Albert Biermann (previously of BMW M fame) promised two full laps of the Nurburgring earlier than the Ioniq 5 N wanted to start out dialing again the facility. That, he stated, was about 16 minutes of full-throttle motion. 

The purpose, he stated, was so that you can do a 20-minute session at your favourite observe, hit the pits, and spend 20 minutes on a quick charger, then be again out for one more 20-minute session with no loss in energy in any respect. That, sadly, we did not get to check, nevertheless it’s the type of promise that ought to open the eyes of many a weekend warrior to the thrill of electrification.

The Price Query 

There is not any method to disguise the truth that the Ioniq 5 N is an enormous ol’ automotive. Its weight and girth are appreciable obstacles to beat in making it a respectable track-day performer. But that is simply what Hyundai has achieved. The Ioniq 5 N is an actual pleasure on the observe, and but additionally a pleasure to commute by way of the worst of all of the copious site visitors that Korea has to supply.

Lots of the added options listed below are of doubtful usability, however even essentially the most gimmicky ones are enjoyable, and enjoyable is what Hyundai’s N division is all about. The Ioniq 5 N takes an excellent automotive and makes it a correct grin machine. 

There’s, nonetheless, one large query that Hyundai has but to reply: worth. The Ioniq 5 N is clearly a specialised machine. Hyundai’s present Elantra N and Kona N each carry a roughly $10,000 premium over their base counterparts, representing an almost 50 p.c enhance in worth. In the meantime, the roughly $63,000 Kia EV6 GT is available in about $20,000 greater than a base EV6. 

Provided that, it appears unlikely that you will get into an Ioniq 5 N for lower than $70,000, and I worry the ultimate worth might be even greater than that. We at the least will not have to attend lengthy to search out out.

The Ioniq 5 N hits sellers in March 2024. 

Competitor Evaluations

Kia EV6 GT 

Tesla Model Y Performance

BMW iX

FAQs

What’s going to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N value?

Hyundai hasn’t confirmed pricing on the Ioniq 5 N, however anticipate it to return in greater than its performance-oriented sibling, the Kia EV6 GT, which is able to set you again round $63,000.   

What’s the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N’s vary?

Hyundai hasn’t given any vary estimates for the performance-oriented Ioniq 5 N. It has an even bigger battery pack than the present Ioniq 5 AWD, which is rated for 260 miles. However, with its worse aerodynamics, extra weight, and extra energy, there is a good likelihood it’s going to are available decrease.

Will the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N qualify for EV tax credit? 

Sadly, since it’s at present made in Korea, it is not going to. Like different EVs made overseas, the tax credit score continues to be out there if the automotive is leased.