The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N challenges everything we know, or think we know, about electric vehicles.
I first encountered the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N during its global launch at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed. There it was, shredding tyres and exuding the kind of audacious energy that suggests Hyundai’s engineers had been on a strict diet of adrenaline and madness.
Its fantastically bonkers nature brought much fanfare to both the brand and the car, and I always longed for the time I would be able to wring this beast around a proper track.
Fast forward to 2024, and I found myself in Lombok, Indonesia, piloting this electrified beast on the Mandalika International Circuit.
Happiness doesn’t even begin to describe the sheer joy I’ve experienced in the car.
Redefining Reality
Forget quiet, smooth anonymity. This car dares to emulate an internal combustion engine, complete with synthetic gearshifts and a soundtrack that could fool your ears into believing a roaring petrol engine lurks beneath the bonnet.
But is this automotive sorcery authentic? To throw in a similar case study, when a CVT gearbox simulates gear ratios or a BMW pipes synthetic engine notes through its stereo, is that any less genuine?
Hyundai’s N division takes this concept and supercharges it. Their N Active Sound+ and N e-Shift systems replicate the behaviour of a traditional eight-speed dual-clutch automatic so convincingly that you’ll catch yourself forgetting the absence of a combustion engine.
The execution is so precise it’s almost unsettling. Leave the accelerator pinned in eighth “gear,” and the car bogs down, refusing to accelerate until conditions align. Downshift too eagerly before a corner, and the system denies the change until virtual revs match road speed. It’s an existential wake-up call to driving purists.
Power Play
On paper, the Ioniq 5 N’s dual motors produce 601hp, with an Overboost function (dubbed N Grin Boost or NGB) temporarily unleashing 641hp. That’s good for a century sprint time of 3.0 seconds, and a quarter-mile time of 11.1 seconds at 197km/h.
This is all achieved despite its 2,200 kg heft, showing how the Ioniq 5 N delivers a relentless surge of power that’s matched by pinpoint handling.
Hyundai’s engineers have dubbed the Ioniq 5 N a “Corner Rascal”, and it’s not hard to see why. It pulls 0.96g in some corners, with a torque split system that lets you tailor the power delivery across 11 settings.
Fancy a drift? Engage Torque Kick Drift mode and revel in the kind of tail-happy antics usually reserved for rear-drive sports cars. Heck, you can even toggle between full front-wheel drive (FWD) and rear-wheel drive (RWD) as you navigate a circuit. Absolutely mindblowing.
Big Brakes, Bigger Ideas
Stopping power is courtesy of the largest brakes ever fitted to a Hyundai; 15.7-inch rotors paired with four-piston calipers up front. Add regenerative braking, capable of delivering 0.6g of deceleration on its own, and the result is consistent, fade-free performance even during intense track sessions.
Remarkably, all this complexity feels natural through the pedal, with no hint of artificiality as the system juggles regen and friction braking. We could even do full cooldown laps without ever touching the real brakes.
Theatrics on Demand
If the driving dynamics impress, the theatrics dazzle. The Ioniq 5 N’s synthetic soundscapes come in three flavours: Ignition (mimicking an internal combustion soundtrack), Evolution (a sci-fi-inspired hum), and Supersonic (something akin to a fighter jet).
While the sounds are subjective, the execution is flawless, adding layers of engagement that are otherwise absent in many EVs.
But one creative decision puzzled us: Hyundai modelled the Ioniq 5 N’s synthetic character on the Elantra N. It’s a commendable car, but imagine being granted a blank canvas to emulate any vehicle in history and choosing your neighbour’s Honda Civic.
Why not draw inspiration from a screaming V-10 Formula 1 car or a championship-winning rally monster?
EV Revolution Meets Everyday Usability
Beyond its track antics, the Ioniq 5 N remains a practical EV.
The 84.0kWh battery offers a real-world range of about 300km, and it supports 350kW fast charging, making it viable for both performance enthusiasts and daily drivers.
The cabin is spacious and tech-laden, with enough settings, modes, and adjustments to keep even the most discerning driver entertained. If we could powerslide as a posse of four in the car, rest assured you would have no problems having your family in tow.
Mindblowing Piece of Engineering
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a car that invites you to suspend disbelief. Yes, it’s an EV. Yes, its theatrics are contrived. But who cares? The result is a thrilling, engaging machine that redefines what electric performance can be.
Purists may scoff at the artifice, but cinema wouldn’t be the same without a little suspension of disbelief, and neither would the Ioniq 5 N.
Singapore is fortunate to be the home of a new Hyundai assembly plant (HMGICS), and we can proudly say most of the Ioniq 5s running around our little island are assembled locally (a term we couldn’t use for the longest time).
But, if you want to embrace the future without abandoning the soul of driving, the bonkers Ioniq 5 N is your car.
It proves that EVs can thrill, excite, and yes, make a bit of “noise” along the way.
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