Clutching your pearls since you’re scared the automotive future is boring is a bunch of meshugas.
I do know this as a result of I screamed round Laguna Seca final week within the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, shifting through paddles and hitting the rev limiter.
Because the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N rolls into dealerships for $67,475, together with a $1,375 vacation spot cost, customers are going to search out an electrical sports activities automotive not like every other EV on sale at the moment.
That is the way you construct a bridge into the longer term for skeptics and fanatics alike. Fortunately, you possibly can disable the bridge for these moments the silliness isn’t appreciated.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N shifts, snaps, crackles, and pops
We’d have three periods the Hyundai crew stated as we walked to the vehicles “idling” within the pits at Laguna Seca. For the primary session we might run in N mode with e-Shift set to “computerized.” Hyundai stated the powertrain’s e-Shift software program had been programmed to really feel like a gas-powered automotive with an 8-speed dual-clutch computerized transmission. This programming contains simulated shifts, proper all the way down to the torque curves, and the related jolts to your physique with the interruptions in energy stream.
Pulling onto the monitor, the Ioniq 5 N’s powertrain growled by means of the audio system, doing a surprising impression of what I might hear in an Elantra N. The snaps, crackles, and pops have been all there because the powertrain digitally revved with a max output of 85 decibels. For reference, an Elantra N at full tilt checks in at 100 decibels. All of it sounded convincingly pure. That’s as a result of it’s been programmed to make use of audio system positioned underneath the hood, beneath the automotive on the rear passenger aspect, and contained in the cabin. The sound programming makes use of all of the audio system and locations the right tones in the fitting locations inside and outdoors the automobile. The “exhaust” observe comes from the again of the automobile each inside and outside, the “engine” noise comes from beneath the hood and the entrance of the automobile, and the assorted different noises come from across the cabin. All of it sounds fairly pure within the Ignition mode. The Evolution setting sounds futuristic with a better pitch that replaces the snaps, crackles, and pops with extra of a jet wind-up noise. Then there’s the Supersonic soundtrack that sounds such as you’re headed into warp velocity within the starship Enterprise earlier than it unleashes a large “increase” by means of audio system when the automotive “shifts” at redline. I couldn’t assist however chortle on the silliness of the increase, which I may really really feel from the woofers.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
In a left into flip 2, referred to as the Andretti Hairpin, the automotive executed a tough downshift that my total physique felt because the digital revs climbed and energy constructed as it will if a gasoline engine have been underneath the hood. Wild. Squeezing the accelerator pedal as I crossed the nook’s apex despatched energy to all 4 wheels whereas pushing and pulling the automotive across the nook. “Shockingly impartial,” I blurted out loud to nobody as I began laughing.
Hyundai stated each piece of the Ioniq 5 N’s suspension has been modified from the usual automotive, together with however not restricted to, stiffer elements and bigger adaptive dampers at every nook which have a wider vary of adjustability. The complete construction’s been strengthened because of 42 further weld factors and an additional 6.9 ft of structural adhesives. The result’s an 11% enhance in stiffness.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Linking the following 9 corners collectively, together with the notorious corkscrew, confirmed my preliminary impression that the dealing with is impartial. The load can be effectively balanced and it sits low because of the 88.4-kwh battery pack positioned beneath the cabin. The automotive rotates with ease. As I got here round flip 11 I hit the brakes and swung the rear finish out, however the automotive didn’t lose composure. Because the rear finish kicked to the fitting and I countersteered and squeezed the throttle, the automotive shortly corrected the slide and shot ahead.
Shifts got here quick and livid because the powertrain banged by means of its digital first, second, and third gears with energy constructing progressively and shortly by means of every. Heading down the entrance straight, the overgrown hatchback hit 112 mph as I crested the hill at flip 1. The automotive lifted, even perhaps totally off the bottom, the suspension dropped, and the steering went mild. The automotive got here all the way down to earth and for the primary time I used to be keenly conscious of the automotive’s 4,861-pound curb weight. That’s 813 kilos greater than a Tesla Mannequin 3 Efficiency and 1,565 kilos greater than an Elantra N.
In Flip 2, the Andretti Hairpin, I took the racing line, and I may really feel the electronically managed limited-slip rear differential shift energy aspect to aspect to rotate the automotive by means of the nook. Seemingly nothing actually upset this factor. Time to fiddle.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
As I approached the corkscrew, I purposely went off the racing line, which put me too far inside for flip 8A instantly after. The Ioniq 5 N didn’t care that I ran over the within curb as I almost pushed to the runoff heading towards flip 9. The entrance Pirelli P Zero Elect tires, which Hyundai labored with Pirelli for extra two years to develop for this automotive, gripped the pavement and flung me ahead as I steered the place I needed to go and the rear sorted itself out.
Again to show 11. I wasn’t fairly as sideways as I used to be the primary time, however the tail was nonetheless out. It shortly recovered and I blasted down the entrance straight hitting 121 mph because the automotive crested the highest of flip 1. All the things went mild once more and when it got here again down I instantly hit the brakes exhausting. The entrance dove and the rear finish wiggled, however then figured itself out with out ever feeling unstable. The automotive has as much as 1.6 g of brake pressure, with as much as 0.6 g of regen baked into that. The pressure comes from 4-piston monobloc calipers clamping 15.7-inch rotors up entrance and single-piston models grabbing 14.2-inch rotors within the again. That’s extra regen functionality than a Rimac Nevera or Porsche Taycan Turbo, which every goes as much as 0.4 g. I couldn’t inform the place the friction brakes began and the regen stopped. All of it felt pure each on the monitor and road, and surprisingly the brakes by no means smoked throughout our monitor use.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N may be manually shifted
The Hyundai crew informed me for the following lap session we have been going to make use of the wheel-mounted shift paddles within the e-Shift characteristic’s handbook mode. As I pulled onto the monitor, the gauge cluster confirmed inexperienced, then orange, after which shortly purple bands across the tachometer indicating I wanted to shift as if I have been in a BMW M automotive. Instantly, the automotive lurched and hit an influence wall as a result of I had maxed out first gear. Issues transfer shortly with a 0-60 mph time of three.25 seconds. Clicking the fitting paddle immediately shifted to second gear and the automotive surged ahead. I shifted to 3rd, after which two clicks of the left paddle again all the way down to first coming into Andretti nook.
On the primary of 4 laps, I quickly realized the automotive was slower across the monitor with the handbook shifts than it was in full auto mode. I by no means ran the monitor with out the e-Shift engaged, handbook or auto, so I can’t remark how the automotive feels on the monitor with out it.
On the twisty again roads of Carmel Valley the paddle shifters and pure energy bands added to the driving expertise. But it surely felt bizarre to be driving an electrical automotive that was doing its greatest to imitate a gas-powered automotive. The handbook shifts make issues slower on the monitor, however you possibly can solely go so quick on the road, to allow them to add to the enjoyable. Shifting manually in visitors would make no sense, however on a twisty again highway it is entertaining.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N – Emme Corridor
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N’s overboost is overblown
For the third session we have been informed to make use of the N Grin Enhance button, which is a purple button on the fitting aspect of the steering wheel. Pushing it delivers a 40 hp enhance for as much as 10 seconds, then it wants one other 10 seconds to get better.
As I got here out of flip 11 heading down the entrance straight I hit N Grin Enhance. A round countdown appeared on the highest proper of the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster: 10 … 9 … 8 … 7 … my enhance was already operating out. Did it even work? I didn’t really feel something.
With 601 hp and 545 lb-ft of torque (N Grin Enhance doesn’t change torque output), an additional 40 hp didn’t ship a kick within the pants. I waited and saved my enhance for an uphill portion to see if I may really feel it extra. After flip 6 heading up Rahal Straight I hit the purple button, the counter appeared, and … nothing. I didn’t really feel a surge of energy. Between the automotive’s weight and solely 40 additional hp, the N Grin Enhance button sort of seems like a gimmick. It’s simply not sufficient energy to note.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N tuned to deal with monitor days
The crew at Hyundai gave the Ioniq 5 N a bigger 84.0-kwh battery pack versus the usual Ioniq 5’s 77.4-kwh pack. The pack’s footprint didn’t change, however the power density and cell chemistry modified to extend the quantity of power within the pack and maintain greater thermal masses.
The automotive’s cooling system has been upgraded with a brand new front-end design that includes extra airflow, two bigger radiators (one low temp and one excessive temp), and the flexibility to make use of the air con to assist cool the powertrain.
These modifications permit the Ioniq 5 N to run two full laps of the Nürburgring at full tilt with out the powertrain derating its energy. A Hyundai spokesperson informed Motor Authority the automotive may most likely run three to 4 laps on the ‘Ring if not going at full tilt.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
My first 4 laps round Laguna Seca used 11% of the battery, my second 4 laps used one other 15% and my remaining 4 laps used 19% of the battery. After 12 laps the battery had a 53% state of cost, and I began with 98%. Motor temperatures by no means crested 144 levels for the entrance motor and 171 levels for the rear, whereas the battery temp by no means went above 99 levels.
Hyundai stated the Ioniq 5 N is able to a peak charging price of about 235 kw. This implies it will possibly nonetheless cost from 10-80% in 18 minutes. That’s useful as a result of it solely has 221 miles of vary, and far much less on a racetrack the place it would have to be charged extra usually and at a slower tempo as a result of it will not be optimized. Hyundai’s in talks with racetracks about putting in devoted quick chargers so Ioniq 5 Ns can cost between periods throughout monitor days.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Hyundai 5 N seems like a scorching hatch
Hyundai calls the Ioniq 5 N a crossover SUV, nevertheless it sits decrease to the bottom with floor clearance checking in at a car-like 5.6 inches versus the usual automotive’s 6.1 inches. It’s 2.0 inches wider than the usual Ioniq 5 because of flared fenders to suit the broader 275/32R21 tires in any respect 4 corners mounted on cast wheels. With a entrance splitter, a rear wing, and a rear diffuser, this doesn’t appear to be a normal Ioniq 5, nevertheless it doesn’t have a boy racer appear to be the Honda Civic Kind R with its large rear wing. Let’s face it, although, it’s a scorching hatch, not a crossover.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Inside, the Ioniq 5’s 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and 12.3-inch touchscreen carry over, as does the dashboard. However the open console space has been changed by a middle console that comes out from the sprint. Its sides are padded to guard your knees throughout exhausting cornering. The cabin feels much less open, but additionally extra conventional. N sport bucket seats hug the physique up entrance however aren’t terribly constricting. Like the usual automotive, the motive force has a knees-up seating place because of the battery pack within the flooring. Steel pedal and footrest covers are embellished with a race flag design. Hyundai’s trademark N blue colour is splashed everywhere in the cabin from the stitching to the lighting.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Hyundai 5 N overwhelms with customization
Ioniq 5 N house owners will be capable of select their very own journey because of quite a few settings. The menu system is huge, from varied phases of steering enhance, suspension firmness, and steering weight, three totally different (for now) sound generator selections, quantity selections for that sound generator, driving modes, and extra. It could take fairly a while to find out the Goldie Locks settings for varied conditions. Hitting N mode simply cranks all the things to the max, together with the sound output.
That is earlier than addressing the torque distribution, which might favor the entrance or rear for some wild rear-wheel-drive burnouts. There’s even a drift mode.
The simulated shifts and handbook shifts with e-Shift, together with the energetic sound generator, may be turned off for many who suppose an EV shouldn’t impersonate a gas-powered automotive. It gained’t be straightforward, although, because it’ll take at the least one swipe and three faucets, minimal, inside the infotainment system.
For everybody else, Hyundai has confirmed an electrical sports activities automotive may be quick, enjoyable, participating, and visceral, in addition to interactive. None of this can be vital, nevertheless it reveals enjoyable gained’t die with the shift to electrical vehicles.
Hyundai paid for journey and lodging for Motor Authority to convey you this firsthand report.
