Hyundai IONIQ 5 N revealed with 478kW

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 N has finally been revealed in full and its specifications solidify the high-performance electric SUV as the most powerful Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) model to date, with its dual-motor battery-electric drivetrain outputting 478kW/740Nm.

Despite the Korean brand insisting its N Performance cars are all about fun and driver involvement rather than outright performance, the IONIQ 5 N also happens to be the fastest-accelerating HMG product to date, stopping the 0-100km/h clock in a claimed 3.4 seconds – 0.1sec sooner than its sister model, the 430kW/740Nm Kia EV6 GT – and topping out at 260km/h.

The secret to this all-star performance is an all-new powertrain that comprises a pair of specially developed motors capable of spinning at up to 21,000rpm and an exclusive 84kWh battery pack featuring one of the most advanced thermal management systems in the industry.

Customers will be able to precondition the battery in one of two ways – Drag or Track – before heading out on track, depending on the nature of the session in question.

Drag mode sets everything up for maximum attack and short bursts of maximum power, whereas Track mode optimises the battery for a prolonged driving session, at which point the N Race function comes into play, offering drivers the ability to tailor the car’s energy usage via the Sprint or Endurance drive modes.

Both largely do what they say on the tin but, to summarise, Sprint dedicates more energy and power towards outright performance while Endurance nobbles the power delivery in order to maximise range and extend the session.

An official cruising range for IONIQ 5 N won’t be published until closer to its global launch at the end of the year, but engineers have nominated an 18-minute DC fast-charge time from 10-80 per cent when charging at the maximum 350kW.

Mechanical enhancements to the powertrain’s cooling system include an increased cooling area, uprated motor oil-cooler, beefier battery chiller and independent radiators for the battery and motors alike, all of which are fed by the enlarged intakes housed within the all-new front fascia.

The aggressive new front-end ensures there’s no mistaking the IONIQ 5 N for one of its lesser stablemates and is complemented by a 50mm increase in track widths, with the extra girth simultaneously reflecting the significantly stiffer body shell and platform.

The whole package rides on all-new suspension geometry designed to lower the centre of gravity and better manage the increased width, with adaptive dampers featuring at all four corners alongside the biggest brakes ever fitted to a Hyundai production car.

Brake rotors span 400mm up front and 360mm at the rear, with the lightweight discs clamped by four- and single-piston monobloc callipers respectively. However, as we’ve previously reported, the hydraulic system will play second fiddle to the regenerative system, which is said to be capable of offering up to 0.6g in decelerative force.

Hyundai says the transition between the regenerative braking and mechanical system is imperceptible to the driver and that the set-up will significantly reduce brake fade and pad consumption on-track.

Grip will be provided by a set of 275/35 R21 Pirelli P Zero HN tyres and enhanced by an electronic limited-slip rear differential, but drivers will also be able to tailor the drive character of their vehicles via the 11-way adjustable ‘N Torque Distribution’ system – essentially letting them choose how much front or rear bias they want from the drivetrain.

Those with a penchant for rear-drive antics will undoubtedly be fans of the ‘N Drift Optimiser’, which helps maintain drift angles by automatically balancing multiple vehicle controls in relation to driver inputs, especially those made via the revised – faster – power steering system.

The system even features an integrated ‘Torque Kick Drift’ function, which mimics a rear-drive clutch kick action for “driving scenarios that require more immediate drift initiation”.

But perhaps the ultimate driver-involvement gismos are the N e-shift and N Active Sound+ systems, which combine to replicate the feel, sound and involvement of driving a high-performance internal combustion vehicle, says Hyundai.

Using a total of 10 speakers, including two external ones, N Active Sound+ replicates the engine sound of i30 N hot hatch, the powertrain of the RN22e ‘rolling lab’ and the afterburners of twin-engine fighter jets to provide drivers with an “acoustic reference to gauge the power being utilised”.

Meantime, N e-shift replicates the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission of the i30 N range to take the IONIQ 5 N’s driver involvement to the next level, offering virtual gear shifts you can actually feel both in terms of the ratio change and altered power delivery, according to Hyundai.

All of these goodies are accessed via the IONIQ 5 N’s dual 12.3-inch displays – digital instrument and infotainment screens – mounted at the top of the dashboard.

As with other N models, the IONIQ 5’s cabin has been given a major pull-through with myriad sporty and performance-oriented additions including a black interior, sports bucket seats, bespoke pedals, N-specific displays and read-outs, Performance Blue stitching and even an all-new steering wheel.

The centre console has been redesigned too and now features knee pads and shin supports so occupants can bolster themselves in place.

Standard equipment highlights include all of the previously mentioned driver aids and hardware, plus a pair of N Custom modes, a heap of eco-friendly and sustainably sourced cabin materials, paddle shifters, Bose sound system, vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality and split-folding rear seats.

Ten exterior paint colour will be available for the IONIQ 5 N – Performance Blue Matte, Performance Blue, Abyss Black Pearl, Cyber Gray Metallic, Ecotronic Gray Matte, Ecotronic Gray, Atlas White Matte, Atlas White, Gravity Gold Matte and Soultronic Orange Pearl – in tandem with the black ‘N Mask’ front fascia, rear diffuser and contrasting ‘Luminous Orange’ exterior trim.

An Australian launch date for the model is yet to be officially locked in, but carsales understands the IONIQ 5 N will be released here in early 2024.

Global Hyundai N boss Till Wartenberg said the IONIQ 5 N is expected “to do well” in Australia, given its status as one of the biggest N markets globally.

“It’s a very important market for N,” he said.

“The IONIQ 5 N is a very highly competitive vehicle, and we see with all of its features, with all of its very fun features, that it meets the expectations of what our customers are expecting.”

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