2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric hot hatch unveiled, due in Australia next year

The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric 'hot hatch' has been revealed – with more than two times the power of an i30 N hot hatch, and supercar-like acceleration – ahead of Australian arrivals next year.

The N version of the Ioniq 5 hatch-turned-SUV is the first electric car from Hyundai's high-performance division, and is set to be its largest, most powerful, quickest-accelerating and most expensive vehicle yet.

The first examples are due in Australian showrooms in early 2024, with prices expected to start in excess of $100,000 plus on-road costs – the first six-figure Hyundai ever offered here.

The Ioniq 5 N shares its E-GMP electric-car architecture with the Kia EV6 GT electric performance car introduced in Australia earlier this year.

However the Hyundai is more than just a reskin of the Kia – and benefits from uprated electric motors, a larger battery, and upgraded cooling systems claimed to allow sustained use on a race track.

The headline outputs from the dual electric motors are 448kW and 740Nm in standard mode, rising to 478kW and 770Nm in N Grin Boost mode – 48kW and 30Nm more than peak outputs of the Kia EV6 GT.

Hyundai claims a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 3.4 seconds in boost mode, a top speed of 258km/h, and a larger 84kWh battery than the regular car's 77.4kWh pack – though driving range is yet to be revealed.

The South Korean car maker says it has worked to make the Ioniq 5 N as fun to drive as its petrol-powered models – despite weighing more than two tonnes, and producing no noise – and capable of repeated race-track laps without a loss of power.

There is a simulated gear shift function designed to match the speed of an i30 N dual-clutch automatic, a range of selectable synthetic driving sounds – including one meant to replicate an i30 N's four-cylinder engine – and a 'drift mode'.

For everything you need to know about the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric car, read on to the subheadings below.

Powering the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N are overhauled dual electric motors, which develop 448kW and 740Nm in standard mode, or 478kW and 770Nm in 10-second bursts of N Grin Boost (NGB) mode, or during launch control.

Zero to 100km/h acceleration times of 3.5 and 3.4 seconds are claimed in standard and NGB modes, and the motors can spin up to 21,000rpm (up from 15,000rpm) to enable a top speed of 258km/h.

The extra power over a 430kW/740Nm Kia EV6 GT or regular 239kW/605Nm Hyundai Ioniq 5 AWD is attributed to a new two-stage inverter with "increased energy efficiency" from the new 84kWh battery.

The new pack is believed to be the same physical size as the 77.4kWh unit in the EV6 GT and regular Ioniq 5, but uses next-generation chemistry that allows it to be more energy dense.

Hyundai has not confirmed a driving range claim for the Ioniq 5 N, and the extra battery capacity may be offset by the N model's larger wheels, high-rolling-resistance Pirelli performance tyres, and more aggressive bodywork.

The Ioniq 5 N retains the standard model's 800-volt electrical architecture, claimed to be capable of charging at up to 350kW – though real-world testing of regular Ioniq 5s has found this to be closer to 240kW – and 10 to 80 per cent recharges in a claimed 18 minutes.

Hyundai says significant upgrades have been made to the cooling systems in the Ioniq 5 N so it can withstand long stints on a race track – including Germany's 20.8km-long Nurburgring circuit.

It highlights an improved battery management system with an increased cooling area, upgrades to the motor oil cooler and battery chiller, and independent radiators for the battery and motors.

Drivers can activate the car's N Battery Pre-conditioning function to pre-heat the battery cells to either the "most efficient temperature [30 to 40 degrees] ... for a short burst of full power" in Drag mode, or "the lowest possible battery temperature [20 to 30 degrees] for more laps" in Track mode.

A new N Race system allows drivers to further customise how energy is used, with Endurance mode maximising the number of race-track laps completed by reducing peak power by 10 per cent, and Sprint mode which claims to "prioritise power and provides shorter bursts of full energy."

Hyundai N has developed a new regenerative braking system – where the motors recoup energy under deceleration – which is claimed to generate an "industry-leading" 0.6G of decelerative force in normal operation.

The company says this feature – which even remains engaged under full-force stops that need the anti-lock braking system – is sufficient to complete 80 to 90 per cent of the braking needed on the road, or 40 to 50 per cent on a race track.

This reduces fade in the conventional 'friction' brakes, which are nonetheless the largest ever fitted to a Hyundai – with 400mm discs and four-piston calipers up front, and 360mm discs and single-piston calipers at the rear.

It also gains a unique N Pedal mode which Hyundai claims enhances the behaviour of the regenerative braking system to transfer weight over the front wheels for improved corner turn-in on a race track.

The Ioniq 5 N is the performance-car division's first all-wheel-drive production car, and features reinforced 'Integrated Drive Axles' at the front and rear, claimed to "endure stronger electric motor torque while reducing unsprung mass."

The Ioniq 5 body has been strengthened with 42 additional weld points and 2.1 metres of extra structural adhesives designed to "improve body rigidity and optimise boot space", the motor and battery mounts have been reinforced, and the front and rear subframes have been strengthened.

The N model also gains a quicker steering rack, adaptive suspension, an electronic limited-slip rear differential, and an additional Sport mode for the electronic stability control system.

It rides on 21-inch forged alloy wheels wrapped in 275/35 R21 Pirelli P Zero performance tyres.

There are a fleet of software features designed to improve handling or provide different driving experiences.

The Ioniq 5 N is the second electric car in the Hyundai-Kia-Genesis group to offer with a virtual gear-shift system designed to replicate a petrol-powered car's transmission.

The simulated gear shifts are accompanied by a jolt in the electric motor's power delivery, a change in the car's computer-generated driving sounds, and a digital tachometer needle that shows an imaginary rpm read-out.

The system can be turned on or off, and makes the car slightly slower when in use, as the motor – which only has one physical gear ratio – no longer delivers a seamless surge of acceleration.

Hyundai N says the feature – known as N e-shift – has been created to replicate the shift speed of "eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) of internal combustion engine (ICE) N cars".

It is accompanied by N Active Sound+, which uses 10 speakers – eight inside, two outside – to emit one of three synthesised driving sounds.

The 'Ignition' sound is intended to simulate a Hyundai i30 N hot hatch's 2.0-litre turbo engine, the 'Evolution' option is "a signature high-performance sound" inspired by the RN22e electric concept, and 'Supersonic' is a "a unique concept inspired by twin-engine fighter jets, featuring variable volume during cornering," Hyundai claims.

Compared to a standard Ioniq 5, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is 20mm lower, 50mm wider and 80mm longer.

Highlights include wider wheel arches to house broader wheels and tyres, a restyled front end with larger air intakes, new side skirts, a unique rear spoiler with N's signature triangular centre brake light, and a restyled rear bumper with checkered-flag reflector graphics.

Luminous Orange – the N brand's new accent colour – is seen on the front bumper, side skirts, front and rear light clusters, and rear diffuser.

Inside, front occupants gain N sports bucket seats from the i30 N hot hatch, which sit 20mm lower than the seats in the standard Ioniq 5, and feature manual adjustment, illuminated N logos, and reinforced bolsters.

Buyers can choose between two upholstery options overseas: a cloth and leather combination, or a "eco" Alcantara and leather mix.

It gains a unique N-branded steering wheel with two circular N buttons – used to engage N and N Custom modes – plus a switch to move through the regular drive modes (Normal, Eco and Sport), and a shortcut for N Grin Boost.

There is a revised centre console with knee and shin pads, a sliding armrest and a stronger construction, metal and rubber-look pedals, and chequered-flag patterns on the pedals and door sills.

Sustainable materials are used throughout the cabin, including "recyclable paperette door decorative garnish", PET yarn made from sugar cane and recycled plastic bottles, further materials made from sugar cane, eco-processed leather, recycled tire pigment paint, recycled poly Alcantara seat cover cloth.

First Australian showroom arrivals for the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N are due in the first half of 2024, pending any delays.

Prices are yet to be confirmed, but given the extent of the Hyundai N-specific upgrades over the Kia EV6 GT – including the power boost and increased cooling – the Ioniq 5 N is expected to be priced in excess of $100,000 plus on-road costs.

The Kia EV6 GT arrived in Australia earlier this year priced from $99,590 plus on-road costs.