Hyundai Debuts IONIQ 5 N at Goodwood

The Goodwood Festival of Speed, an annual mecca of performance cars and their followers in West Sussex, England, serves as a stage for both hillclimb enthusiasts and new vehicle debuts. Among this year’s exhibitions is the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N, making its official debut this week.

The IONIQ 5 N can be found at Hyundai’s “N brand” dedicated booth, along with their N Vision 74, the RN22e and the i20 N WRC; however, the debut will culminate during an exclusive “N Moment,” showcasing the sub-brand’s models and rolling labs, including the IONIQ 5 N and a special IONIQ 5 N Drift Spec show car. Alongside the visual debut of this all-electric utility’s ‘N’ variant, we finally have a glimpse at the specs backing it up.

Built using the same E-GMP platform as the regular IONIQ 5 and its Kia EV6 cousin, the 5 N incorporates a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup, fed by a stronger 84 kWh battery. The result is a total system output of 448 kW– about 601 horsepower. For a little extra giddy-up, a boost function will temporarily up that to 641 horsepower. With boost enabled, we’re looking at a 0-62 mph time of 3.4 seconds, eventually reaching a top speed of nearly 162 mph. Range figures are to be announced closer to launch.

For those unaccustomed with the sensations of EV driving, one of the more apparent differences with an electric vehicle is the lack of a transmission, meaning there’s no gear shifting to be done, manually or automatically. While that’s still true for the 5 N, Hyundai saw fit to add an N e-shift feature, said to mimic the feel of an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. It controls torque output and gives off a jolting sensation similar to those felt in an internal combustion car, said to provide “a more precise, interactive driving experience.” Another case of internal combustion mimicry is the N Active Sound+, pumping one of three potential tracks, including the sound of Hyundai N’s 2.0-liter turbo four-banger, through the speakers. The objective of this system is supposedly to “provide drivers with an acoustic reference to gauge the power being utilized.” 

Pushing more power is often accompanied by enhanced underpinnings, of which Hyundai outfitted the 5 N with plenty of in order to give it “Corner Rascal capabilities.” This starts with additional welding points and more adhesives, joined by reinforced motor and battery mounting for increased lateral rigidity. Both front and rear are new integrated drive axles, inspired by World Rally Championship (WRC) design, capable of handling the extra energy and simultaneously reducing unsprung mass. They lead us over to the 21-inch forged aluminum wheels, wrapped by 275/35R21 Pirelli P-Zero tires. Changes to the steering were made to increase responsiveness and directivity.

The IONIQ 5 N also comes packed with N Pedal, N Drift Optimizer and N Torque Distribution. N Pedal, derived from i-Pedal regenerative braking, is said to prioritize “fast and exhilarating cornering over energy efficiency,” achieved by capitalizing on decelerative forces to aggressively transfer the weight for a sharper entry. N Drift Optimizer works in tandem with the integrated Torque Kick Drift function, the latter of which mimics a clutch kick maneuver, to maintain proper drift angle. N Torque Distribution is exactly what the name suggests: A system to appropriately distribute torque forward and aft to increase cornering capabilities, working alongside the electronic limited-slip differential in back.

No doubt, routinely driving your IONIQ 5 N at its limits will sap the battery much quicker than your 9-5 commutes. The IONIQ 5’s 350 kW charging speed returns, achieving 10-80 percent recharges in 18 minutes. Another carryover is the Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) feature, letting operators charge appliances when needed.

Giving the IONIQ 5 N an once over, its N roots are clear, immediately given away by the Performance Blue Matte paint job with contrasting “Luminous Orange” elements; though, customers will be able to have their 5 N in a variety of other colors. The four-piston front calipers and single piston rears are also painted to match the theme. But it’s more than just paint, as this model, like other N’s, incorporates more aggressive aero elements front-to-back, including an exclusive wing-type spoiler. The interior features a new steering wheel (with the boost button attached, of course) and paddle shifters, matched by additional padding and bolstered bucket seats. All that, and Hyundai claims the black and blue  interior still uses sustainable materials throughout. Neat.

There have been no words on pricing or availability, but we’ll be watching the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N closely for any further updates. For reference, a 2023 Kia EV6 GT starts at $62,925 with delivery; however, all signs point to the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N being much more than just an EV6 GT rebadging.