First images of Hyundai's first performance EV emerge online

Wednesday, 12 July 2023

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a track and snow-bred electric performance car.

Hyundai’s much hyped first fully electric model to achieve its ‘N’ performance seal of approval – the Ioniq 5 N – is around 12 hours away from making its international debut at the Goodwood Festival of speed.

But, images purporting to show the new model appear to have already leaked online.

Note the ‘Parametric Pixel’ detailing in the aggressive new diffuser.

First photos showing the Ioniq 5 N without camouflage appeared on Korean website AutoSpy overnight, showing the model donned in the brand’s familiar ‘Performance Blue’ hue, with more aggressive bodywork to match.

CarExpert reports that the imagery featured in a promotional video that was uploaded to the internet by mistake before getting taken down.

The images show that Hyundai has made extensive cosmetic changes all around the hotted up EV. The N gets bespoke front and rear bumpers, as well as new side skirts and wheels.

Additionally, according to the images it appears that the Ioniq 5 N also gets larger wheel arch extensions – perhaps pointing to a wider track and enabling the use of more significant rubber.

The front and rear aero are masked in black, with matching two-tone detailing featured on the side skirts. The rear diffuser features more of Hyundai’s ‘parametric pixel’ design philosophy.

Drive mode customisation has always been a strength in Hyundai’s N products, and the Ioniq 5 N appears no different.

Both sets of flared arches feature added ventilation, possibly to help send air around each wheel in order to reduce drag. And splashes of red feature throughout, including on the beefed up brake callipers.

Inside, the Ioniq 5 N cops updates similar to what the i30 N and i20 N score over their standard non-N siblings. Whilst the bulk of the cabin carries over, including the dual 12.3-inch screens, there’s also plenty of performance additives thrown into the mix.

The Ioniq 5 N could be quicker than its Kia EV6 GT sibling. The pair share the same e-GMP platform.

Bucket seats and a sport steering wheel are present, each featuring Hyundai’s signature N blue contrast stitching. The screens feature N-specific menus and features, including a g-force meter and lap timer.

The aforementioned steering wheel also features some of the cabin’s most important tweaks. It features dual ‘N’ buttons on either side of its third spoke, and new toggle buttons on top of its other two spokes.

It’s yet to be confirmed exactly what these added buttons control, but it’s probably safe to assume that some of them will control battery preconditioning and access to race mode – two features Hyundai has already confirmed the Ioniq 5 N comes with.

In terms of the Ioniq 5 N’s mechanicals, Hyundai has yet to give up many details.

It’s expected that the 5 N will either match or better its Kia EV6 GT e-GMP cousin on paper, a model that comes with dual motors making 430kW/740Nm, a 77.4kWh battery, and capable of hitting 100kph in 3.5 seconds.

Hyundai New Zealand has yet to confirm whether we will see the Ioniq 5 N in local showrooms. But, its website offers a handy clue – showing a page where keen punters can ‘register their interest’ in the model.