After success In its ridiculously entertaining Ioniq 5 N in 2024, Hyundai obviously hopes it can repeat this trick by applying the knowledge of its fast sub-brand to its streaming siblings – the result revealed today is the Ioniq 6 N, Hyundai’s second high-performance EV.
Born from the N division of the brand, the division’s mission is to focus on providing a combination of bending ability and racecourse capability to create accessible “everyday” sports cars, you want the 6 N to have impressive numbers, and it does. It produces 650 PS (478 kW) and 770 nm of torque, stagnated to 62 mph for acceleration of 3.2 seconds (using startup control), and a top speed of 160 mph.
The 6 N also provides modifications to the battery management system, which obviously can adapt to a range of track driving scenarios such as drag, sprint or endurance racing, ensuring temperature management is optimal. Hyundai claims this leads to higher and long-lasting performance of the EV and greatly reduces conditioning time, which means the 6 N should be able to run at race level for longer periods.
Photo: Alex Tapley/Hyundai
Photo: Alex Tapley/Hyundai
Photo: Alex Tapley/Hyundai
José Muñoz, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor, said in a statement that he hopes to get a second performance from the brand to “attract drivers” to electric vehicles, i.e. “a high-performance enthusiast,” which may be a stubborn fan of combustion technology, but willing to swing if there is an attractive enough alternative.
The main part of the 6N’s ability to attract gasoline heads is its innovative n-e-Shift (virtual gear movement) system was originally deployed in the Ioniq 5N, but is now said to have been further improved. As the motor is turned on, the 6N steering paddle is used in conjunction with the car’s motor, regenerative braking system and speakers to simulate changes in the ice car gears – not only audibly but also physically.
The car’s electric motor and rebrake system combine to manipulate torque resistance to simulate the acceleration you experience when you transfer gears in an ice truck. To further fantasize, these “inclinations” are married, with corresponding false noise changes that can be set to go from traditional racing-style tones to more EV modes called Evolution, or sci-fi fans can choose something called Lightspeed.
Photo: Alex Tapley/Hyundai
Photo: Alex Tapley/Hyundai
Photo: Alex Tapley/Hyundai
The system initially required a full year of 5n software development, even adding regenerative braking and increasing a higher “fake swap speed”. As the last boom, Hyundai added a feature called N Enkient Shift Light, an internal feature that visually prompts the driver for shifting points.
On top of the redesigned suspension geometry and reengineered chassis sits a spruced up version of the 6 N’s exterior design, where aerodynamics play a critical role, just as they did in the original 6. The “vanilla” 6’s single-curve profile afforded it an impressive drag coefficient of just 0.21, but now with the sporty panel tweaks this figure rises a touch to 0.27.
These adjustments include motorsport-inspired elements such as swan-neck rear wings and fenders, which not only means accentuating the track-ready appearance, but also helping with stability during high-speed turns. 6’s new color “Performance Blue Pearl” adds a pearl finish to the iconic hues of the Hyundai N.
