Hyundai Motor recently released a teaser for the upcoming Ioniq 5 N, the performance-spec of its electric crossover. In the video, the electric vehicle was seen drifting sideways in the freezing temperatures of Sweden.
The ‘N’ badge that will be worn by the new Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV shows that it is in the performance division of the South Korean automaker. Performance trims offer better performance and power over the base models. Hyundai announced that the new EV will debut later in July at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
In the teaser video shared online, the Ioniq 5 N wore complete camouflage covering the body details. However, the iconic LED headlamps and distinctive silhouettes were hard to miss. Ioniq 5 N will be the automaker’s first performance EV and performance all-wheel-drive.
“Just as our N models are honed at the sharp corners of the Nürburgring, our N models are also honed at the sharp corners and icy surfaces of our proving ground in Arjeplog, ensuring maximum performance in the most extreme winter conditions,” explained Till Wartenberg, vice president of N Brand Management & Motorsport.
The brand’s N division focuses on three main pillars for all their vehicles namely everyday sports vehicle, racetrack capability, and corner rascal. In the Ioniq 5 N, the engineers optimized the vehicle’s E-GMP platform and dual motor setup to optimize performance in all driving conditions building on the knowledge from Hyundai’s AWD i20 N WRC Rally 1 vehicle.
Engineering alterations made for the Ioniq 5 N
Arguably the most important feature being optimized is the electronic limited-slip differential (e-LSD). In addition to providing stability when driving at high speed, this feature also helps to keep the vehicle under control at all times.
The Ioniq 5 N also features the N Torque Distribution that adjusts the torque levels for the rear and front wheels, allowing powerful customization that can outrun the driver in difficult conditions. This explains the choice of test ground.
The slippery snowy surface was also ideal for testing the drift mode, thanks to the N Drift Optimizer, which will come with the new vehicle. According to the company, the new Ioniq 5 N can modulate rear and front torque, suspension stiffness, torque rate, e-LSD, and steering effort.
The South Korean automaker is yet to disclose the technical specs of the vehicle. However, there are rumors that the Ioniq 5 N will come with a least 577 hp and 800 Nm of peak torque that will match that of the 2023 Kia EV6 GT built on the same E-GMP platform. If that happens to be the case then, the Ioniq 5 N will go from 0 to 60 mph in under 3.5 seconds.
Other features that will likely debut with the new performance vehicle include a rev limiter sound, fake gear changes, and artificial sounds that blend with the hum of the dual motor. A few more tester videos are expected before the vehicle finally hits the market.
Hyundai will offer a ‘Build to Order’ program to Australian customers
Hyundai Australia wants to give customers personalization options when supply begins for its Ioniq EVs. Tim Rodgers, the product planning and development manager for Hyundai’s local division explained during the launch of the new Ioniq 6 EV that the ‘Build to Order’ program will give customers a variety of choices that goes beyond just trim and color choice.
“The simplest iteration [of Build to Order] is offering color choice, but actually I don’t think we want to do just that,” Rodgers said. “If we want to say Build to Order, we should be offering new options, but that’s something we’ll have to play with based on the amount of supply we can get. I would like to think we’d be able to offer more choices than just color.”
In the Ioniq 6, for example, Hyundai offers at least eight exterior paint options and four different interior color choices. However, some interior colors are paired with specific exterior colors unlike the Palisade and the Santa Fe.
Rodgers said the company will likely make an announcement on the program before the end of the year. Once the program goes live, customers can choose a pre-configured vehicle in stock or already on its way into the country or make a custom factory order with an allotted wait time.
Hyundai’s announcement is coming on the heels of a similar announcement by Kia which disclosed the company’s intention to offer an “Order To Deliver” (OTD) program in Australia. Earlier this year, Damien Meredith, chief operating officer for Kia Australia told CarExpert that the company hopes to bring the initiative online in about two years’ time.
“We’ve been big on keeping things as simple as possible,” Meredith said. “If product planning had their way, we’d have 15 colors, but we like to keep things pretty tight and simplistic. But with Order To Delivery, it is going to happen. It will happen where a customer will come in and say ‘I want this and this’, and then in 90 days, they’ll get their car in production. It’s not happening tomorrow, but in a few years.”
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