We tested the most powerful car ever produced by Hyundai

Currently in motorsport for 10 years, Hyundai will be waiting for its electric revolution to explode the meter. In fact, its most powerful car is equipped with a battery. Worse, it’s an SUV! And yet, to put it bluntly, the Ioniq 5 N is one of the cars that has surprised us the most in terms of sports and driving pleasure.

The Ioniq 5 N can be considered a more advanced version of an SUV that already had a good style, but which perhaps lacked a little character on the road. We were happy to talk about the comfortable car to distinguish it more easily from its technical cousin from Kia, the EV6, and to drive more powerfully. We were far from thinking that the Ioniq 5 could change to this extent and bring such behavior on the road and especially on the circuit!

Because yes, we are not satisfied with a few departmental roads and the usual way to test the Ioniq 5, we were also able to take it on a circuit and push it to its limits after a few well-placed circuits, but also for special ones. workshop on drifting or speeding up.

From the Ioniq 5 to the Ioniq 5 N, a surprisingly large gap

There is not one but several worlds of difference between the Ioniq 5, the last family SUV that we tested in February 2022 and the N version that we used recently. The former relied on unique styling and record charging speeds to impress Hyundai’s technological superiority at a time when the Korean was almost alone in boasting the 800 V platform.

If two years passed between the sale of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 family and this N version, it is not in vain: Hyundai engineers did not just add a second engine and adjust the suspension and handling to make the steering more sporty. There was real detailed work, especially on the electrical part and the software, which lasted for many months, and which resulted in this particular model on the market.

Of course there is some physical development. The Ioniq 5 N is longer, wider, lower than its regular convertible self. Its chassis has been strengthened with about forty additional welding points. From now on, the air inlets on the front abacus are no longer a model, they actually serve to cool the battery, which other electronics on the market do easily. Finally, on this sports model, the suspension is controlled (this is a change with great results) and the tires change to Pirelli P Zero. They were modified specifically for this model by an Italian equipment manufacturer.

Mechanical developments play a large part in the changes to the Ioniq 5 N range, but the changes are at least as important in another aspect: the software. Here too, they significantly change the road feel of the SUV.

A technological monster

Hyundai engineers have done an awesome job on this car. So much so that it’s hard to tell if it’s the same car as the family SUV we tested two years earlier. The bulk of this work includes the software of everything and if the controlled suspension and reinforced chassis play a role in the character of the Ioniq 5 N, this is also the case for its on-board computer and many technologies developed specifically for this. example.

The most visible feature of this function is found on the main screen of the car with the menu set to “N”. The same goes for the steering wheel that has four buttons offered for this version of the Ioniq 5, as well as two paddles that allow the gear to shift in “manual” mode. We will return to this section in more detail. Of these four buttons, two are fully programmable. In our case, the first one allowed you to put the car in “city” mode, with comfort-oriented settings and silence on board. The second one changed it to “Race” mode, in other words circuit settings. More commonly, the button on the top left allows you to switch from one mode to another (eco, comfort, sport), it is a common button in electric cars. Finally, the last button, red please, is called NGB for N Grin Boost. It is similar to the “Turbo” or “Nitro” performance of a car. An extreme way that will seek the highest possible power to increase the maximum torque from 600 to 650 hp. This mode lasts for 10 seconds and requires a “cool down” (or pause) for an additional 10 seconds before it can be engaged again.

Hyundai engineers also worked on the special features of their two engines to allow the rider to distribute torque by millimeters between the front and rear engines. The same goes for the N Pedal technology which improves the performance of the Ioniq 5 when decelerating to improve cornering. How? By playing algorithmically on the distribution of citizens and thus allow the car to gain in agility.

Finally, among the technologies that impressed us the most about this sports SUV, there is certainly its unique battery management. Indeed, battery temperature management is a real treat for the Ioniq 5N and is clearly an important feature when looking for performance in an electric vehicle. Rarely, the Ioniq 5 has a widget on the instrument screen that provides real-time battery and engine temperatures. Together with the unique dual cooling system as well as other specific improvements, it allows the sports SUV to give the full measure of its potential for a long time before, logically, weakening. This is how the Ioniq 5 N became the only electric car capable of completing two consecutive laps at high speed on the famous Nürburgring. The rest of the electrics need time to rest and cool down before doing two outdoor races on the German circuit.

Thermal conductivity

The most important unity of the Ioniq 5 is also software: it is a simulator of an eight-speed mechanical gearbox. This information can easily make heat engine purists smile, or even scoff, and, let’s admit it, we were skeptical to say the least at the thought of discovering this functionality.

Just a few seconds behind the wheel of the Ioniq 5 N was enough for us to be convinced of this feature. Everything is there! Noise, feeling, feeling … Indeed, the simulated noise of the gearbox seems less and less reliable as we climb faster, thus reaching the limits of the internal sound system, but the result is everything just amazing. You can hear, by ear, gear changes, downshifts and even switches as you play around with the gearbox. Better: the car acts like a warm car and the feeling is there.

It’s simple, the Ioniq 5 can pass itself off as fuel in an amazing way. The car’s behavior and noises so accurately mimic those of a hot car, that you end up losing your bearings. Perhaps the most interesting: a simple press of a pre-programmed button allows you to switch to normal electric mode, reducing noise to zero and significantly changing the behavior of the car. From that moment on, the Ioniq 5 N once again becomes almost a traditional family SUV. We said almost…

Ioniq 5 N vs the competition

Completely unique in its kind, the Korean sports SUV is also almost alone in its niche. Indeed, once you have returned the keys to the Ioniq 5 N, the question immediately arises. Whose car is this? Who is willing to pay almost 80,000 euros for an electric SUV that is neither a historical reference in its category nor a German one with undeniable performance.

Of course, it is the answer to this question that will determine the commercial future of this Ioniq 5 N. Because currently and even in the near future, the Hyundai sports SUV seems to have no real competition. The performance of the Tesla Model Y is definitely what we would normally object to. But, let’s say right away, once we get out of the dispute about acceleration, the Californian could not compare in terms of behavior and handling.

Another “natural” competitor has yet to hit the road although it is close to being sold. This is an electric Porsche Macan, which like Hyundai had the good idea to mount the 800 V platform But if we have a little doubt about the performance of the Porsche SUV, we have even a little doubt about its price which should be higher than that. of Ioniq 5 N.

Test decision:

Hyundai has set the bar very high with this stunning Ioniq 5 N. Rarely has an electric vehicle displayed so much character and playfulness. Never before has a manufacturer offered such a mode that can simulate the behavior and feel of the heat to this extent. Perhaps most interesting is the fact that all of this can be disabled with the click of a simple button. From that moment, the strong Ioniq 5 N is transformed into an everyday SUV, which leaves the circuit, allowing everyone to take their baguette with their children. This unique versatility is the main strength of the Ioniq 5 N, and it’s also what makes it one of our favorite models this year.

🔴 To not miss any 01net news, follow us Google News and WhatsApp.