Hyundai are making a big leap with the N performance brand by introducing the IOINQ 5 N. The big question for non-EV motoring enthusiasts is, does adding a soundtrack make a it a sports car?
To be fair, Hyundai are adding more than a soundtrack in their attempt to take the loyal N community with them to an electric future. And by adding some N body styling and painting the IONIQ 5 in performance blue, I think the job of convincing punters an EV can be a performance icon is half done.
At the global launch before the unveiling at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Hyundai team of engineers explained to the media everything they had done to make this a real sports car. While they were reading from a carefully choreographed script, the hint of excitement in their voices suggested they had actually achieved something special.
They acknowledged that electric vehicles had transformed our cars but not our hearts. Though to evolve the N brand, with more electric models to come, they needed to stay true to the three pillars which are:
- Corner rascal – N performance cars are as hungry for corners as you are.They’re beautifully balanced and always respondingto your will.
- Racetrack capability – N cars are equipped to perform on the track. Tested in extreme temperatures and extreme locations, there’s no need for additional tuning. Even the standard spec tires are built to perform.
- Everyday sports car – Track day? Open road? Or the daily commute? Its intuitive Human Machine Interface (HMI) gives you a wide range of customisation options, enabling you to change its character from a serious track star to comfortable everyday transport whenever it suits you.
The first bit of trickery is to redefine our relationship with sound. Hyundai has developed N Active Sound + which consists of a 10-speaker system (eight internal, two external) that provides three different sound themes available for drivers: Ignition, Evolution and Supersonic.
I can’t wait to test it myself, though according to the engineers, the sound will imitate the experience of driving an ICE car on the track.
Gear changes are the other sensory requirement on the track and the newly developed N e-Shift works closely with N Active Sound + to simulate the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) of ICE N cars. N e-Shift simulates a gearshift by controlling motor torque output and simulates the jolt feeling between shifts.
So the IONIQ 5 N is more than a coat of paint and some bodywork which doesn’t stop with N Active Sound + and N e-Shift. The Hyundai engineers have also worked on the steering geometry, tyres and suspension.
But the most sophisticated technology relates to the battery and the ability manage the temperature setting depending on the race conditions. This has been hone and developed through Hyundai’s experience with electric motorsports categories such as ETCR.
N Battery Preconditioning pre-sets the temperature of the battery cells to their most power efficient temperature. The battery preconditioning function is split into two modes: ‘Drag’ mode and ‘Track’ mode to accompany different performance driving scenarios.
In ‘Drag’ mode, the optimum temperature is set for immediate use of maximum power, while in ‘Track’ mode, the lowest possible battery temperature is optimised for increased number of laps.
N Race gives drivers more direct control on the car’s energy usage, prioritising ‘Sprint’ or ‘Endurance’ driving. ‘Sprint’ is the default state of IONIQ 5 N prioritising full power on demand for the driver. ‘Endurance’ is a setting that maximises IONIQ 5 N’s range on the racetrack. This is achieved by limiting sudden power spikes that slows temperature build-up and increases endurance.
When the i30N was launched it barnstormed its way into the hot hatch Hall of Fame around the globe and elevated the Hyundai brand to the status of track day royalty. I’m sure the team responsible for maintaining the N brand have had many sleepless nights thinking about the transition to EVs, and the launch of the IOINQ 5 N will be a major test of their ability to carry the brand into the future.
