Development of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Ends, Performance EV Due in July at Goodwood

For the final leg of testing, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N was unleashed at the Nurburgring racetrack to prove its worth. The engineers ensured everything functions as it should because many things can go wrong, from the battery pack and electric powertrain to the fake engine noise and faux gear shifting.

Hyundai says the hardware cooling tech was reinforced thanks to new heat management solutions. These are called the N Battery Preconditioning and N Race. Split into two modes, Drag and Track, the former pre-sets the battery cell temperature to its most efficient setup. The latter prioritizes Spring and Endurance driving by giving those behind the wheel more direct control of energy usage.

The lack of driver feedback is said to be no longer an issue in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, as the EV has fake engine noise and gear shifting, named the N Active Sound + and N e-Shift, respectively. Consisting of ten speakers, eight inside and two outside, the N Active Sound + has three different settings, the Ignition, which simulates the sound of the 2.0L turbo'd unit of the ICE-powered N cars, Evolution, with a sound inspired by the Vision Gran Turismo and RN22e, and Supersonic, which simulates a fighter jet. By controlling the motor torque output, the N e-Shift simulates the gear shifting of the 8-speed DCT for a more immersive experience.

Industry-leading regenerative braking is also on deck, with the zero-emission performance-focused model capable of offering up to 0.6 G decelerative force through this feature alone. Hydraulic brakes are also included, and they feature large 400-mm (15.7-in) discs made of lightweight material and optimized for cooling. The Korean car marque claims the transition between regenerative and hydraulic brakes is imperceptible to the driver.

What else should you know about the Ioniq 5 N? That it uses a powertrain similar to the one of the Kia EV6 GT. The latter has 576 hp (584 ps/430 kW) and 545 lb-ft (739 Nm) of torque, and the Hyundai is expected to be slightly punchier, with roughly 600 horsepower on tap. The dual electric motors will probably be fed by the EV6 GT's 77.4 kWh battery pack, which enables an EPA-estimated total driving range of 206 miles (332 km). Kia is asking at least $61,600 for the 2023 EV6 GT in our market, and we expect the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N to be priced similarly when it launches. As we already told you, the unveiling is set for the Goodwood Festival of Speed next month, on July 13.