Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Debuts at Goodwood Festival of Speed

Hyundai has completed testing of the Ioniq 5 N in preparation for its debut at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 13.

The first all-electric model of the N performance sub-brand is in the final stages of circuit testing ahead of its public debut at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, Hyundai said in a press release Friday.

One of the areas engineers are focusing on is thermal management; the Ioniq 5 has a more robust cooling system, including a model-specific radiator, motor oil cooler, and battery cooling system. This hardware is accompanied by battery preconditioning software, with "drag" and "track" modes designed to extract maximum power in short sprints and cool the battery over a series of laps, respectively.

The N-Race feature also allows drivers to adjust energy usage. The "sprint" mode is the default, giving the driver maximum power. According to Hyundai, "Endurance" is designed to maximize range on long circuit runs by limiting sudden power spikes that can cause heat buildup in the battery.

Engineers also revamped the regenerative braking system, allowing for up to 0.6G of deceleration. Regeneration also takes place during ABS activation, with a maximum of 0.2g. Hyundai also promises several upgrades to the hydraulic brakes, including larger 15.7-inch rotors.

For a greater sense of driver involvement, the Ioniq 5 N also features a feature called N e-Shift. Hyundai claims this will allow drivers to apply the skills they have honed in internal combustion vehicles to electric driving.

Like many other sporty EVs, the Ioniq 5 N will have its own soundtrack to compensate for the lack of engine sound: eight internal speakers and two external speakers are used in Hyundai's N gasoline models: the 2.0-liter turbo four, N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo and RN22e Concept artificial sounds, as well as simulated sounds such as those of fighter jets.

In addition to being the first electric vehicle in the N model, the Ioniq 5 N is the first all-wheel drive. The regular Ioniq 5 has a maximum output of 320 hp, and the Ioniq 5 N is expected to exceed that, although Hyundai has not stated the extent of the increase; the Kia EV6 GT, which shares the E-GMP platform with the Ioniq 5, produces 576 hp, so there is plenty of room for power increases.

Hyundai has not said whether the Ioniq 5 N will be introduced in the U.S., but based on the timing of the announcement, if it does, it will go on sale in the 2024 model year.