Hyundai Motor shifts gears with Ioniq 5 N debut

Hyundai Motor has world-premiered the Ioniq 5 N, its first high-performance all-electric model, as it targets discerning gearheads.

Hyundai Motor CEO Chang Jae-hoon, left, and Till Wartenberg, vice president and head of N Brand and Motorsport at Hyundai Motor, pose with the Ioniq 5 N at the Goodwood Festival of Speed held in West Sussex, Britain on Thursday. [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

Hyundai Motor has world-premiered the Ioniq 5 N, its first high-performance all-electric model, as it targets discerning gearheads.

The vehicle is a high-performance model based on the company's Ioniq 5, its first car developed on its EV-dedicated E-GMP modular platform. It was unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, one of the biggest motorsport events in Britain on Thursday.

The N brand is Hyundai's high-performance line, targeting the same market as Mercedes-Benz’s AMG and BMW’s M ranges.

Ioniq 5 N [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

With a body that is around 20 millimeters (0.8 inches) lower and 50 millimeters wider than the standard model, it emphasizes sporty aspects and maximizes circuit driving potential, with Hyundai marketing it as an "everyday sports car."

“Hyundai N spearheads the technological leadership of Hyundai Motor,” said Hyundai Motor CEO Chang Jae-hoon. “N brand’s winning combination of technological know-how and motorsport experience is pushing the limits of vehicle performance, which has most recently resulted in Ioniq 5 N, a game changer for electric high-performance."

At the front, there is an N Mask graphic fascia with functional mesh along with an air curtain and air flaps for extra cooling.

Ioniq 5 N’s “Corner Rascal” feature means the car has 42 additional welding points and 2.1 meters (6.8 feet) of additional adhesives. The motor and battery mounting are reinforced while front and rear subframes are enhanced for lateral rigidity.

An “N Pedal” mode is available that addresses the inherent weight and size of EVs while aiming to achieve responsive handling. This software function is designed to prioritize fast and exhilarating cornering over energy efficiency.

Interior of the Ioniq 5 N [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

Chang is confident the car is better than Porsche's Taycan as Ioniq 5 N boasts up to 650 horsepower and 78.5 kilogram-meters of torque.

It only takes 3.4 seconds to go from zero to 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour).

Like the standard model, its N variant is equipped with Vehicle-to-Load, which allows the car to provide electricity to other devices without additional equipment, with both interior and exterior outlets for convenience.

The vehicle comes with a multi-charging system that can accommodate both 400-volt and 800-volt charging. Using 800-volt charging, it can be charged from 10 percent to 80 percent in only 18 minutes.

Ten exterior colors are available for selection.

Price and the exact date of release will be announced later, according to Hyundai.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]