As a prelude to the Los Angeles Auto Show (AutoMobilityLA), Hyundai Motor released its first N-brand electric performance car, the Ioniq 5N, equipped with a two-stage inverter and an 84-kilowatt-hour battery, with an output of up to 641 horsepower (478 kilowatts).
Hyundai says the car's performance features include battery preconditioning, brake regeneration, drift optimization, torque distribution and track-ready settings to enhance intense driving. After Ioniq5N, more N-brand high-performance electric vehicles will be launched.
Till Wartenberg, Vice President and Head of N Brand and Motorsport at Hyundai Motor, said: "The Ioniq 5 N was developed to take driving pleasure to the next level using the latest technology available. Starting with the Ioniq 5 N, the N brand's goal is to provide a signature fun driving experience, whether petrol, electric or hydrogen. To achieve this goal, we paid close attention to the voices of N fans to fine-tune our first fully electric N car, with the aim of inspiring the driving excitement of the most discerning N fans."
The Ioniq5N adds welding points and adhesives to the Ioniq5's body-in-white structure to increase stiffness. Reinforcements to the motor and battery mountings and modifications to the front and rear subframes increase lateral stiffness, while an integrated transaxle inspired by World Rally Championship design is applied to the front and rear bodywork to withstand the greater torque generated by performance driving. 21-inch forged aluminum wheels reduce unsprung mass.
Steering enhancements improve cornering stiffness, thanks to rack-type motor-driven power steering (R-MDPS), which has a faster gear ratio than the standard Ioniq5.
Enhancements in handling and powertrain response are achieved through software to match the instant torque of electric propulsion. Similar to the Hyundai team's i20 NWRC race car, the system improves torque vectoring and motor output, and reduces efficiency indicators at launch. An example of the change in strategy is that the Ioniq 5N allows weight to be transferred to the front when cornering, rather than optimizing brake regeneration.
Finally, for drifters, the N-Drift Optimizer balances vehicle control with real-time input to help maintain ideal drift angles. A built-in torque kick function simulates the clutch action of a conventional rear-wheel-drive vehicle.
All of these performance changes are to accommodate the improvements in the 2025 Ioniq 5N’s power upgrade. When boost is activated via the NGrin button, the car's electric motors (one per axle) spin to 21,000rpm, delivering 641hp. A new 84kWh battery powers it all.
Other systems on the car allow drivers to track usage during performance. For example, State of Charge Tracking displays battery consumption calculations for each lap and overall, maximizing available power. A thermal management system keeps the battery cool during intense driving and high-output situations, while separate heat sinks for the battery and motor improve thermal efficiency.
The driver can use this thermal management system to precondition the battery before taking to the track. Endurance and Sprint modes optimize battery temperature for longer racing or drag races.
Braking power comes from an N-tuned braking system, the most powerful braking system Hyundai has ever produced. The system uses 15.75-inch front rotors (14.2-inch rear rotors) and four-piston monobloc brake calipers. Regenerative braking systems can be calibrated by the driver for aggressive or non-aggressive use and are often the primary means of stopping power. The regenerative braking system provides up to 0.6g of deceleration before engaging the physical calipers.
Finally, Hyundai has added faux gearshifts and futuristic engine-like sounds to provide a more engaging feel. These features, called "Ne-shift" and "NActiveSound," simulate the power-shift feel and rev-matching of high-performance driving.
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5N comes with Pirelli PZero performance tires and red accents and will hit the market in mid-2024 as a 2025 model.