Just hours ago, Hyundai introduced the 2025 Ioniq 5 N at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. And if you thought the carmaker’s all-electric hatchback, which is already offered in the US, was cool, you should definitely check out the lengths to which this performance version goes to impress enthusiasts.
Instead of packaging the Ioniq 5 as your average crossover, Hyundai gave this a 1980s design, disguising it as a big hatchback. And while the regular Ioniq 5 can’t be had with more than 320 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque, the Ioniq 5 N bumps that to 640 hp and 567 lb-ft for good measure.
Yes, those peak numbers require the EV’s N Grin Boost to be engaged (up to 10s), but even without this, the machine still makes 600 hp and 545 lb-ft of torque. Remember when such numbers used to be reserved for supercars? In fact, here’s the Ioniq 5 N’s Kia cousin, the EV6 GT, battling a Ferrari in a drag race.
The Ioniq 5 N doesn’t just top the 576 hp EV6 GT in terms of horsepower. Instead, the Hyundai gets dedicated suspension and, compared to the standard Ioniq 5, a long list of chassis improvements, rigidity-boosting extra welds included.
Compared to the standard Ioniq 5, the N version is lower and wider, while featuring larger 21-inch wheels, sporting a reworked adaptive suspension. Plus, the more aggressive front and rear bumpers are mixed with a rear wing and diffuser, along with active air flaps that cool the brakes.
There are larger brakes sporting 15.75-inch front rotors and 14.2-inch front units. The regenerative braking system, which can deliver up to 0.6G of deceleration, comes to help.
The official performance figures placed the 2025 Ioniq 5 N at 3.4s for the 0 to 60 mph time (3.5s without the N Grin Boost), while giving it a top speed of 161 mph.
Compared to the Kia EV6 GT, the Ioniq 5 N also features a larger, Gen 4 battery, whose updated chemistry means the usable capacity jumps from 77.4 to 84 kWh. The driving range will be announced closer to the market launch mentioned below.
The Ioniq 5 N’ drift mode and simulated 8-speed gearbox
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N packs physical controls on the steering wheels and elsewhere, which is quite rare for an EV. As for the front bucket seats, customers can choose between cloth, leather and faux Swede called Eco Alcantara.
The AWD system of the Ioniq 5 N features N Torque Distribution for splitting the muscle between the axle, while there’s a limited-slip differential at the back.
Hyundai’s N division decided to experiment by fitting the transmission with e-shift software that allows this to mimic the behavior of an eight-speed dual-clutch unit by artificially interrupting torque for each “shift” and replicating engine braking via the regenerative system. Along with a new steering column, the said system is aimed at offering the driver more feedback.
The same purpose is served by the N Active Sound system, which uses speakers placed inside and outside the car that can deliver “futuristic” soundtracks (the EV type) and even replicate that of an ICE.
There’s even a N Drift Optimizer integrated into the Drift Mode (the latter is RWD-only), which can simulate the clutch kick action one would achieve in a manual RWD car.
Hyundai talks about track driving and charging
Hyundai also talks about endurance when describing its performance EV. The company explains it engineered the Ioniq 5 N to withstand 2 full laps of the Nurburgring—at a “very high track pace”—without power degradation.
This is a significant detail, as we’ve seen how Tesla’s current (at the time of press) 7:25 Nurburgring record saw the Model S Plaid limiting power over the course of a single lap due to heat management considerations.
Getting back to the South Korean automaker, it states that the Ioniq 5 N can be driven hard at the track for around 20 minutes, then charged from 10 to 80% over a similar interval of time before returning to the circuit for another session.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N market debut
Earlier today, sports broadcaster Laura Winter talked to a Hyundai executive at Ioniq 5 N’s Goodwood Festival of Speed (FOS) dynamic debut, asking about the market debut of the all-electric hot hatch—it’s part of the FOS 2023 live stream video below.
The executive stated that the Ioniq 5 N’s market launch schedule kicks off in September for the Korean market, with Europe set to follow later in the year. He also mentioned a 2024 expansion into “multiple markets”, with the Hyundai USA website confirming the stateside arrival of the vehicle for next year, but you can expect around 220 miles per charger based on that battery boost.
Pricing for the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 will be released closer to the vehicle launch and you can expect this to be around $70,000 (based on the Kia EV6 GT).
The Goodwood FOS launch also saw Hyundai introducing an Ioniq 5 N Drift Spec, namely a “slightly modified” example featuring upgraded suspension, wheels, tires, and brakes, along with a roll cage. It remains to be seen if this is a mere exercise or more, but the clouds of tire smoke the vehicle, along with the production model, delivered while doing donuts at Goodwood is a sight for sore eyes—you can check it all out in the Goodwood live stream video below.