At one time, when mention was made of an ‘electric vehicle’, the perception was that it was going to be boring to drive. This was because decades ago, EV technology was still not developed enough and performance was not a priority. There were many other issues to overcome – like range anxiety – in order to make EVs more widely accepted.
But over the past 10 years, perceptions have changed and many carmakers have developed – and even started selling – EVs with sportscar performance. With the inherent peak torque generated almost from standstill, an EV can accelerate a lot quicker than a car with a combustion engine, and sportscar makers have exploited this character.
So sportscar enthusiasts who fear the end of their beloved high-performance adrenalin-raising machines in the electric era can breathe easy and even look forward to a new era of high performance. We can already see this happening at BMW M with its new XM, and Porsche already sells the Taycan and even Nissan has said that the next GT-R will be fully electric.
Hyundai is also putting a high-performance IONIQ 5 through final testing before its launch this July. This will be the IONIQ 5 N, the first high-performance, volume-produced all-electric N brand model. The prototypes are finishing off their validation programs at the Hyundai Mobis Proving ground near the Arctic Circle in Sweden.
For the IONIQ 5 N, Hyundai Motor has combined the EV’s Electrified-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) with N’s motorsport-bred technologies and expertise to boost performance, The company is confident that this will become a driving enthusiast’s choice.
The location for testing has not only very low temperatures (-30°C) but also low-grip coefficient icy surfaces. The most extreme low friction conditions allow the engineers to work on achieving the optimal balance between the car’s responsive character and its ability to perform safely and predictably in sub-zero conditions.
The super-cold conditions are also useful for testing the electrical systems and battery performance. Batteries are sensitive to extremely hot and also extremely cold conditions, so the testing will provide data on how the performance will be.
Hyundai N also has an electrification strategy and, in 2015, it was already thinking of a sustainable future for the next generation of driving enthusiasts. Besides the N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo, the RM20e prototype and Veloster N ETCR racing car also gave an idea of how the brand would maintain its high performance image.
Last year, the N brand introduced the RN22e, a rolling lab designed to communicate a transfer of N’s electrification experience to the IONIQ 5 N. For this model, N brand engineers have optimized the E-GMP’s dual-motor architecture for high performance in all driving conditions. There is also the knowhow of all-surface all-wheel drive (AWD) capabilities demonstrated by Hyundai i20 N WRC Rally 1 car in Sweden. The IONIQ 5 N will be the first N brand production vehicle with AWD.
For corner-carving capability, there will be the N Drift Optimizer which integrates front and rear torque distribution, torque rate, suspension stiffness, steering effort and the e-LSD (electronic-Limited Slip Differential) system. This will create a driving mode dedicated to drifting. It will help drivers of all skill levels to enjoy drifting and is designed with particular care for drivers who are entering the sport of drifting for the first time.
In addition, the IONIQ 5 N uses N Torque Distribution that is optimized for different drive modes, allowing the driver to select the torque level to both front and rear wheels. N Torque Distribution and e-LSD work together to distribute power to all 4 wheels in varying ratios. This means they are specifically designed to quickly respond to the instantaneous and seamless power delivery inherent in EVs — even in extreme low-friction conditions like icy surfaces.
“Just as our N models are honed at the sharp corners of the Nurburgring, the same is also done at the sharp corners and icy surfaces of our proving ground in Sweden, ensuring maximum performance in the most extreme winter conditions,” said Till Wartenberg, Vice-President of the N Brand Management & Motorsport sub-division at Hyundai Motor Company.
“We’re proud to demonstrate the IONIQ 5 N perfectly meets our broad performance criteria, ensuring N Brand success as our first EV production N model,” he said.
