Three new Hyundai N performance concepts teased

Hyundai’s N performance vehicle division is readying a trio of new concept cars ahead of its global ‘N Day’ on July 15 – the day after the official launch of the new Hyundai IONIQ 6 electric sedan – which it will use to preview the next chapter of its flourishing performance car portfolio, including at least two more powerful models based on existing EVs.

The three concepts were teased overnight via a trio of model-specific images posted to the Hyundai N Worldwide Facebook and Instagram pages, each revealing a signature design cue of the respective models with varying levels of transparency.

The first image is a distant shot snapped from the grandstands of a racetrack, centred on a Performance Blue hatch or SUV, however, it’s hard to be certain of anything beyond that due to the detail-obscuring motion blur.

The comments section has nominated the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N as the prime suspect and we’d have to agree based on the standard IONIQ 5’s lifecycle, not to mention the spy images and social media sightings that circulated several months back.

The vehicle in the image is devoid of any obvious motorsport-style wings or decals and finished in a production-ready colour, and the rough outline of its small and segmented front lighting signature is another good indication it points to the first N version of the Hyundai IONIQ 5 fastback SUV, which should rival its upcoming Kia EV6 GT sister model for pace.

There’s nothing hatch- or SUV-like about the vehicle teased in the second image, which previews a slinky side profile with a long bonnet, tapered nose cone, sloping roofline and a massive rear wing.

Right now there’s nothing in the global Hyundai portfolio with a silhouette even close to this, however, the Kia Stinger still exists within the wider Hyundai Motor Group and Genesis debuted the Genesis X Speedium Coupe concept back in April, so there’s definitely scope for a high-performance N coupe or fastback to be in development.

Going by the blatant aero, we wouldn’t be surprised if this turns out to be a new competition car of some sort – maybe even a prototype of the electric and hydrogen-powered Hyundai Vision FK, which was designed to preview an eventual low-slung performance flagship.

The final image is a lot more forthcoming in its clarity; it’s the Hyundai IONIQ 6 N.

While the image and description don’t name the car directly, the curved rear-end, subtle ducktail spoiler and rear lighting signature give away the vehicle’s identity, as do recent comments by Hyundai design boss SangYup Lee, who just last week waxed lyrical about the design prospects and scope for both N and wagons versions of the upcoming IONIQ 6 sedan.

Shroud in tyre smoke, most of the car’s body is hidden from view save for the obviously illuminated tail-light strip and the massive fixed rear wing.

Hyundai has made much noise about the IONIQ 6’s identity as an ‘electrified streamliner’, so it makes sense for the range-topping performance version – which will likely develop in excess of 350kW – to need some extra downforce.

Making “corner rascals” is a core principle of Hyundai’s N go-fast division, after all.

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