Hyundai is presenting the first all-electric model in its sporty N family, appropriately at the Festival of Speed in Goodwood. The Ioniq 5 N should not only inspire sports car fans, but also do real pioneering work.
With its sub-brand N, launched in 2012, Hyundai has landed a real hit: Affordable sports cars with a lot of punch, for the smaller purse the at least visually sporty N-Line – that hit and hits the nerve of the customers. However, because the car industry is currently in a massive transformation phase and therefore the dynamic fraction cannot endlessly heat around with combustion engines, the electric drive must gradually gain a foothold at N as well. The first lure at Hyundai is the Ioniq 5 N.Fake gearbox for a combustion engine feelingIn order to avoid possible conversion problems from the high-speed combustion engine to the electric motor as far as possible, the technicians have the first of its kind in addition to the cool optics and the technical basis with two motors, 800-volt architecture and the resulting ultra-short charging times, it still has a wealth of exciting capabilities. One of the most promising features for future users who cannot (yet) imagine life without shift paddles and rev limiters is called N e-shift. At the push of a button, it does so as if the two electric motors were actually combustion engines, as if the automatic transmission were an eight-speed dual clutch transmission. Shift jerks at high loads and a virtual limit of 8000 revs included. An effective way to reduce the phantom pain when saying goodbye to the turbo petrol engine: Everything is different – but it feels like before. Fake engine sound for fun and orientation This can now be found grossly exaggerated or absolutely indispensable. In any case, one thing is clear: what you can do with powerful e-cars with software alone is fascinating. With the help of eight loudspeakers for the interior and two for the outside world, the N Active Sound + also gets rid of a second crucial shortcoming of Stromer in the ears of the fans, namely the absence of a powerful sound. There are three variants to choose from, two futuristic E sounds and one called “Ignition” that simulates the N engine and exhaust sounds. Of course, the fun factor should not be neglected, according to Hyundai. At the same time, the sound – which can be deactivated at the push of a button – should also provide orientation about the current situation, for example on the race track. For example, as helpful feedback to the driver as to how close he is to the limit. A person at the wheel of the Ioniq 5 N can quickly get to the limit. A look at the performance data and the various fine gadgets that the engineers have installed in the crossover SUV shows that. If required, the all-wheel drive delivers 478 kW/650 hp and a maximum torque of 770 Nm for at least ten seconds in the so-called N Grin Boost. In this state, it sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. The top speed is 258 km/h. How much power the N swallows and how far it can go with its 84 kWh battery is still open in the N division. In any case, the clear goal is at least two laps on the Nordschleife, where the youngest Ioniq derivative should be practically at home.Technical support for cool driftsThere and on various other test and race tracks worldwide, the Ioniq 5 N was trained to be a triple athlete. Its fathers see it as a curve robber with significantly increased body rigidity, modified drive axles, a specific steering column, bucket seats at the front, special 21-inch wheels, a high-performance brake system plus a maximum recuperation delay of 0.6 g. Hyundai describes this value as “industry-leading”. There is also the completely variable torque distribution front and rear, which can be set in eleven stages. Or the N Drift Optimizer for the neat sideways movement. The electronically controlled chassis and the cooling system were specially designed for the racetrack. Among other things, the driving mode and the N Grin Boost can be selected on the N steering wheel. Of course there is also a launch control. The Sprint and Endurance settings can be used to preselect the shortest possible lap times or the longest possible range. And the battery pre-conditioning enables short performance peaks with full power in drag mode or an optimized battery temperature over longer distances in track mode In combination with the new accent color Luminous Orange Matte, the EN, which will debut in spring 2024, looks really good with its various aerodynamic optimizations. Plenty of recycled materials are used inside, for example in the form of eco-Alcantara and leather for the bucket seats. The 4.72 meter long newcomer underlines its suitability as an everyday car with plenty of space for the passengers thanks to a wheelbase of three meters and a loading volume of 480 liters. The battery can be charged from ten to 80 percent in 18 minutes. And the infotainment (12.3-inch instrument cluster and 12.3-inch display) does not have to be compromised compared to the “normal” Ioniq 5. Hyundai has not yet commented on the price. However, it is clear that the previous N customers have to be prepared for fundamentally higher “electrical” acquisition costs. (SPX)
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