Completely Wild EV Performance: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Gets 641 HP for the Track

Competes with: Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, Kia EV6 GT and Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Performance

Looks like: The closest thing to a modern Lancia Delta Integrale (other than the insanely expensive Futurista restomod)

Powertrain: 601-hp (641 in N Grin Boost), dual-motor all-electric powertrain with an 84 kilowatt-hour battery pack; all-wheel drive

Hits dealerships: TBA

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is one of our favorite electric vehicles currently on sale — so much so that we named it our Best Electric Vehicle of 2023. It’s got peppy powertrains, tons of interior space, more than adequate range and excellent charging capabilities. What it doesn’t have, however, is a completely wild performance variant — until now. The debut of the Ioniq 5 N presents shoppers with both a compelling performance vehicle for enthusiasts who care about more than straight-line speed and a promise that Hyundai’s N division will continue to work its magic even if the automaker runs out of internal-combustion vehicles.

Related: 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E Vs. 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5: Which Electric SUV Is Right for You?

The three principles of the N divisions are: Racetrack Capability, Everyday Sportscar and Corner Rascal. The Ioniq 5 N aims to live up to all those principles with a host of innovations and technologies — many of which also have slightly silly names. But, if you can look past that, the Ioniq 5 N presents itself as a true EV hot hatch, offering both performance and some practicality.

More Than Just Quick (But Still Really Quick)

Of course, Hyundai didn’t leave the Ioniq 5’s powertrain alone when making the N. In place of the higher-output, dual-motor setup in all-wheel drive versions of the pedestrian Ioniq 5 is a dual-motor, AWD drivetrain making almost 601 horsepower in normal operation and up to 641 when the N Grin Boost feature is activated. The battery pack is also larger in the N, at 84 kilowatt-hours instead of the long-range Ioniq 5’s 77.4 kWh.

Hyundai won’t release range figures until later, but the automaker says the Ioniq 5 N will charge at up to 350 kilowatts, just like the regular car, and go from 10% to 80% state of charge in as little as 18 minutes. Range could be a concern, though, as higher-performance EVs usually have lower range ratings compared to less powerful versions; for example, the AWD Kia EV6 GT is rated at 206 miles versus the RWD long-range EV6’s 310.

Hyundai estimates the Ioniq 5 N will complete a 0-62 mph sprint in just 3.4 seconds. That’s not the sub-2-second time far more expensive and powerful EVs can offer, but the Ioniq 5 N is about more than just quickness.

Besides N Grin Boost for an extra burst of power, the N Pedal system uses regenerative braking to improve balance and turn in on sharp corners instead of prioritizing efficiency (also likely knocking range down a tad). Owners can choose from 11 different front- and rear-torque distribution settings with N Torque Distribution for ideal performance in a variety of scenarios. N Drift Optimizer (are you sensing a pattern yet?) aims to make it easier both to throw the Ioniq 5 N into a drift and control it once it’s sideways. N Launch Control offers three levels of traction settings for standing starts, and the Track State-of-Charge (weirdly sans N) records efficiency per lap.

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But wait, there’s more. N Race mode gives drivers Endurance and Sprint settings to prioritize number of laps or lap times, and N Battery Preconditioning optimizes battery temperature with Drag and Track modes for either bursts of power or longer racing sessions.

And we’re still not done. N Brake Regen tweaks the regenerative braking forces compared to the regular Ioniq 5 to provide up to 0.6 G-forces worth of braking force, which helps return energy to the battery pack and reduce the amount of force on the larger mechanical brakes in the Ioniq 5 N. Hyundai is well aware that the Ioniq 5 N’s (undisclosed) weight could cause the mechanical brakes to fade during track driving.

Another aspect of EVs that makes performance driving difficult is the relative lack of sensory feedback; internal-combustion-engine vehicles provide numerous cues for drivers to understand what is going on with the vehicle. To combat this, N Active Sound+ provides ICE-like sounds that help drivers understand current levels of power delivery, and the N e-shift feature attempts to replicate the feel of the N division’s excellent eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. That includes jolts during “shifts” and, according to N engineers, reproducing the feel of a missed shift. N Active Sound+ has three different modes: one replicates N 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gas engines; another is inspired by the RN22e concept; and the third draws from the sound of jet engines.

The last N feature we’ll mention, and my personal favorite, is called N Road Sense. When the system detects a double-curve road sign, it recommends that drivers activate N Mode for more driving fun. That fun is aided by a stiffer chassis and retuned power steering for increased feedback and control. Unfortunately, the feature is for Europe only.

Look the Part

To convey its performance chops, the Ioniq 5 N looks somewhat different from other Ioniq 5s. The N is longer, wider and slightly lower than its siblings, with flared fenders sitting above unique 21-inch wheels. The front styling is far more aggressive, with a mesh grille, added cooling features and a lip spoiler, and an accent stripe in Luminous Orange runs along the lower portion of the car and is exclusive to the N model. A large diffuser and rear spoiler, as well as checkered-flag patterns, make up the majority of changes to the rear styling.

Inside, the interior gets an all-new steering wheel design with buttons for N Grin Boost and driving modes as well as paddles for the N e-shift and N Pedal functions. Aggressive drivers should appreciate the additional knee padding on the center console, too. Performance seats similar to those found in other N cars are mounted slightly lower than in the regular Ioniq 5 for improved driving feel and also light up. Pedal position is also optimized for performance driving. The interior comes in black with performance blue accents and uses sustainable materials.

More From Cars.com:

• 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Gets More Range, Equipment, $1,500 Price Increase
• Do the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 Really Have Faster Charging Times Than Other EVs?
• Hyundai Ioniq 5 Vs. Tesla Model Y: Functional Vs. Funky
• 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Review: The EV We’ve Been Waiting For
• Hyundai Ioniq 5 Vs. Kia EV6: What’s Really the Difference Between the Two?

Pricing and Release Date

Hyundai will announce pricing and additional details closer to the Ioniq 5 N’s release date.

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