Hyundai is hoping its Ioniq 5 N will usher in a new era of electric performance cars that drive just as well as its beloved gas-powered N cars, just with the added benefit of clean — and instant — electric power delivery. Now after what’s seemed like years of waiting, we finally know how much it’ll cost. Including $1,375 for destination, the Ioniq 5 N will start at $67,475 when it goes on sale later this month, making it the most expensive vehicle Hyundai has ever made.
But that price gets you some of the most impressive and customizable performance tech you can buy, and the Ioniq 5 N is also the quickest and most powerful Hyundai ever made. Power for the Ioniq 5 N comes from a new 84.0-kWh battery pack and a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup that makes 641 horsepower and 545 pound-feet of torque. A dual-stage electric inverter on the motors allows for the N Grin Boost, which achieves the full power at the press of a button (in normal driving the Ioniq 5 N makes 601 hp).
Performance tech abounds in the Ioniq 5 N. There’s a specially tuned performance steering called N R-MDPS (Rack-Mounted Motor-Driven Power Steering) that features a quicker steering ratio. The N Pedal has been tuned to compensate for the heavier weight of EVs, allowing for quicker turn-in by weight transfer to the front axle under braking. There’s a drift optimizer that helps the driver maintain the optimal angle during drifting, as well as a Torque Kick Drift function that, according to Hyundai, “allows the driver to simulate the clutch-kick action of a rear-wheel-drive car.”
N Torque Distribution lets the driver choose between 11 different levels of torque distribution, and it has an electronic limited-slip rear differential. There are three traction levels of N Launch Control, and N Brake Regen assists with hard braking while simultaneously helping to extend the life of the brakes by blending regen and hydraulic braking systems during use. And don’t forget the N E-Shift mode that can simulate a dual-clutch transmission, and the N Active Sound+ that recreates internal combustion noises.
This isn’t all just some gimmicky tech, either. The Ioniq 5 N has been engineered for actual track use, with an N Race suite of tech that allows for the car to hold up to track abuse in different situations, as Hyundai describes:
N Race applies a motorsport-derived approach to maximizing available resources for the fastest possible laps overall. While configuring this type of change would normally require a full team of technicians and equipment, IONIQ 5 N offers this adjustability via convenient menu selection. With N Race, drivers are given the strategic choice to prioritize ‘Endurance’ or ‘Sprint.’ ‘Endurance’ maximizes range on the racetrack by limiting peak power, resulting in slower temperature build-up. Conversely, ‘Sprint’ prioritizes power, providing shorter bursts of full energy.
The Ioniq 5 N looks the part as well. Outside there’s black trim, more aggressive bumpers and intakes, a bigger rear spoiler, and two extra inches of width thanks to broader fender flares that hold wider 21-inch wheels wrapped in 275/35R21 Pirelli P Zero summer tires. The ride height is 0.79 inches lower than a standard Ioniq 5, and the N is also 3.2 inches longer than the standard car thanks to its rear diffuser. Differentiating the Ioniq 5 N from its ICE-powered N siblings is Luminous Orange exterior trim, a change from the red that the gas N cars have. The Ioniq 5 N will only come in one trim, though you do get to choose between five exterior paints, including the one shown here, and a color I can’t wait to see called Soultronic Orange Pearl.
Inside there are N-branded seats, pedals, and a chunkier steering wheel that holds several buttons for functions like the N Pedal, N Grin Boost, and regen functions. That N Active Sound+ system uses ten speakers in total — eight inside and two outside — to recreate various engine noises depending on the theme that’s selected. Ignition will sound like a gas-powered turbocharged inline-4, while Evolution sounds like Hyundai’s RN22e concept and Supersonic is said to be inspired by fighter jets.
If you’re interested, you won’t have to wait long to get your hands on one. Hyundai says the Ioniq 5 N should start arriving at dealers this month, hopefully without any crazy markups.