2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

We've known for some time that an N version of the award-winning Hyundai Ioniq 5 was in the works as the Korean brand's first foray into high-performance EVs. But more than just demonstrating if the N division can recreate the same magic in an EV that we've experienced in cars like the Kona N and Veloster N, the Ioniq 5 N will also set the tone for future Hyundai models. It will compete against the likes of its corporate sibling, the Kia EV6 GT, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT - and in doing so, it bolsters the growing ranks of a fresh segment: driver-focused performance EVs.

The hottest new electric crossover-hatch with 601 horsepower (and more at the touch of a boost button), a dedicated drift optimizer, launch control, and a DCT-simulating N e-shift system, doesn't so much arrive on the scene as it comes in sideways in a cloud of tire smoke. And we can't wait to get our hands on it.

With its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK in July 2023, we hope the release date for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N isn't too far off. We expect it'll be coming out as a 2024 model before the end of 2023.

While the price of the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is unknown at this stage, it'll probably be a little pricier than the Kia EV6 GT, which currently costs $61,600. We expect a starting MSRP of $63,000 or thereabouts for customers in the USA.

As mentioned, rivals will include the Kia as well as the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT. The Ford begins at around $60k, and costs $5k more with the Performance Edition package that puts out 480 hp and 634 lb-ft of torque.

Few cars blur the lines between crossover and hatchback more than the Ioniq 5, which is defined as the former but actually has the proportions of a spacious hatch. That's no bad thing since a hatchback-style body more naturally lends itself to a sporty design than a crossover, and besides, the standard Ioniq 5 is already one of the most unique designs on the road.

The exterior of the new Hyundai Ioniq 5 N crossover comes with the expected N flourishes, but these have been updated for this model. This includes contrasting black trim, an N Mask graphic fascia with functional mesh, an air curtain, and active air flaps up front for more effective brake cooling. A lip spoiler highlights the broad stance of the car, and it's accented in the new Luminous Orange strip that is exclusive to this model. This also runs along the side skirts where the distinctive creases make prism-like shapes that set this car apart from anything else on the road. The headlights are thin U-shaped designs that evoke a muscle-car look underneath the low browline.

A wing-type spoiler is mounted at the rear and a triangular N-only brake light is integrated into it. The rear diffuser and air outlets are aerodynamically functional as well as being aesthetic, and the Luminous Orange accent strip carries on the N theme here. The taillights are slim - dual rectangles on each side. Lower down below the hatch is a black bumper sporting checkered-flag reflectors.

21-inch forged aluminum wheels wrapped in high-grip 275/35R21 Pirelli P-Zero tires fill the slightly flared arches, and conspicuous orange brake calipers are visible through the geometric design. The Ioniq 5 N couldn't look more performance-oriented and futuristic if it tried, and among its rivals, we think it's by far the most striking.

Hyundai tells us that the exterior colors for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N will include Performance Blue in both metallic and matte, Abyss Black Pearl, Cyber Gray Metallic, Ecotronic Gra, and Atlas White (both in metallic and matte), as well as Gravity Gold Matte and Soultronic Orange Pearl.

The dimensions provided for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N show that it's almost an inch lower, less than two inches wider at the bottom, and over three inches longer than the regular model, thanks to the N couture it's dressed in. Thus, the length of the Ioniq 5 N comes in at 185.6 inches, width at 76.4 inches, and the feisty N car stands 62.4 inches tall. The Ioniq 5 N's wheelbase is the same as the regular version at 118.1 inches.

As far as curb weight goes, the heaviest Ioniq 5 currently comes in at over 4,600 pounds, and the 2024 Ioniq 5 N is unlikely to be any lighter than this.

When performance is the name of the game, the recipe has to be precise. And Hyundai's N division has historically added equal parts technological expertise and motorsport experience, harking back to WRC successes, to the mix. To this end, the new Ioniq 5 N comes with dual motors with specs of 601 horsepower and 546 lb-ft of torque (641 hp and 568 lb-ft when N Grin Boost is engaged). Hyundai claims 0-62 mph in 3.4 seconds using the boost function - add one-tenth without it.

The new Ioniq 5 N crossover will ascribe to the three 'performance pillars' that the brand uses to craft its N cars, namely, Corner Rascal, Racetrack Capability, and Everyday Sportscar.

To create a cornering champion, the 2024 Ionig 5 N has been developed with 42 additional weld points, almost seven feet of extra adhesive, and reinforced battery and motor mountings for increased lateral rigidity. Its Integrated Drive Axles are inspired by WRC experience and will allow the car to manage more torque from the electric motor while reducing unsprung mass. The steering response has also been improved thanks to a strengthened steering column and a specially-tuned rack-mounted motor-driven power steering setup with a higher steering ratio. The N Pedal function addresses the heft of EVs that usually negatively affect handling, too - this provides instant turn-in by prioritizing quick cornering over efficiency.

In terms of trackability, the 5 N's battery can be preconditioned before you even attempt a launch, getting it to optimal temperatures for time on track without overheating. N Grin Boost allows the electric motors to spin up to 21,000 rpm, improving acceleration by power increments of ten seconds, and N Launch Control provides three different traction levels for the quickest - and most entertaining - starts. The Drift Optimizer will help to maintain drift angle in real-time by balancing vehicle controls depending on driver inputs. It also offers a Torque Kick Drift function to allow the driver to simulate RWD clutch kick in a conventional gas-powered vehicle.

The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N also comes with an e-LSD at the rear for improved cornering performance, with wheel sensors and enhanced damping for a wider performance range from the electronically controlled suspension. Torque can also be distributed front and rear across 11 levels via the N Torque Distribution function.

Worth noting is that the N-tuned brakes are the most powerful braking system from the automaker to date. It comprises 15.7-inch front discs with four-piston calipers and 14.2-inch rear discs made from lightweight materials and optimized for cooling. These work together with the regenerative braking system for excellent stopping power. The N Brake Regen setup is bespoke for the Ioniq 5 N and provides 0.6 G deceleration, which Hyundai states is industry-leading.

The Ioniq 5 N comes with so much N-specific tech that it may seem overwhelming, but the automaker promises it's still an everyday sports car, too. To ensure you have fun on regular roads as well as the track, the Ioniq 5 N comes with the N e-shifter that simulates the eight-speed DCT we know from ICE N cars, providing a satisfying jolt at each "gear" change. At the same time, the N Active Sound + system provides an audible reference for the driver to gauge power. It uses eight internal and two external speakers with three distinct sound profiles: the familiar 2.0T N engine sound, a high-performance whine, or a twin-engine jet-fighter soundtrack.

Hyundai has not yet announced range expectations for the 2024 Ioniq 5 N, but we can't imagine it will be overly impressive since the focus is fully on performance. The Kia EV6 GT, for example, only has a 206-mile range and a combined MPGe figure of 79 - significantly less than the most efficient EV6's 117 MPGe combined.

What we do know is that the Ioniq 5 N has an 84-kWh battery, which is the highest-capacity battery ever in a Hyundai EV. It's much larger than the biggest 77.4 kWh battery on the top-end regular Ioniq 5, which comes with an all-electric range of around 266 miles. We're hoping the N model's bigger battery will result in a minimal range penalty.

The battery setup in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is compatible with 350-kW charging speeds to take it from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes, and it also starts charging immediately after being plugged in, thanks to Plug & Charge which negates the need for an app or card for authentication.

The battery can be prepped for track use via the N Battery Pre-Conditioning system that selects the most efficient temperature for either 'Drag' or 'Track' settings. Additionally, N Race mode can prioritize more racetrack range via the 'Endurance' setting by limiting peak power, while 'Sprint' will give shorter bursts of energy for ridiculously quick take-offs (at the price of reduced range).

We know less about the interior of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N than we do about the exterior, but the tidbits we do have are exciting. We're told the interior of the Ioniq 5 N will be similar to other N vehicles with N-branding on the seats, door scuff plates, and pedals. The steering wheel gets the N logo for the first time, though, and there are N buttons on either side of this for customizable drive modes (these can be set to the whims of the driver). The N Grin Boost button is located at 3 o'clock for quick and easy access to bursts of power, and there are paddle shifters for easy use of the N e-shifter and N Pedal regenerative braking.

The cabin is largely focused on the driver and the driving experience, with the pedals thoughtfully placed for optimal foot contact in track driving, oversteer, drifting, power slides, and when two-foot driving is in play. Even the footrest supports spirited driving, and the center console comes with knee pads and shin supports - if that doesn't indicate how often drivers are expected to throw the car around corners, nothing will.

Seats inside the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N follow a similar trend, with the N buckets equipped with reinforced bolsters and installed lower into the floor than regular Ioniq 5 models. A highlight of the Ioniq 5 range is second-row spaciousness, so your friends can also come along for the ride and see what this high-performance N can do.

Interior colors are limited to one scheme on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, which includes black with Performance Blue accents, and there is a pixel pattern on the seats. Buyers can have either a combination of cloth and leather upholstery or eco Alcantara and leather, while recyclable materials are used throughout the rest of the cabin. A checkered-flag motif carries through from the exterior of the car to the door scuff plates, pedals, and footrest.

When it comes to features, the Ioniq 5 N won't be missing out; you get USB ports, wireless charging, and the Hyundai Connected Car Navigation Cockpit as standard. The latter sees the dual 12.3-inch displays used for the instrument cluster and infotainment display, but it comes with N-specific graphics in the Ioniq 5 N. This setup will give occupants easy access to Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and in the case of the Ioniq 5 N, probably a more expensive sound system.

It may be the sportiest model in the range, but even the base Ioniq 5s comes with blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear parking sensors, pedestrian/cyclist detection, intelligent speed limit assist, highway driving assist, and smart cruise control, all of which the N should get as standard for the times it's considered an 'everyday' performance car. You also get a Track State-of-Charge feature, which will calculate battery consumption per lap when you're speeding around the track.

As if all of this wasn't enough, the spicy 5 N can be used to charge other devices via Vehicle-to-Load technology, even when the vehicle is turned off, so your e-bike, camping gear, or household items can be powered wherever you find yourself.

Cargo space in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N comes in at around 17 cubic feet, and there are cupholders for the few times you'll be driving sedately enough to warrant having a beverage on hand.