Hyundai has announced pricing and specification for the IONIQ 5 N, with the range starting at £65,000. That’s £6,170 more than the current top-of-the-range Namsan version and £2,355 more than a Kia EV6 GT.

To justify the extra, the Hyundai features a number of upgrades to the body and drivetrain. The N gets a bigger 84kWh battery than the standard model, which is paired with two motors. These provide up to 640bhp and just under 550lb ft of torque, giving a 0-62mph time of around 3.4 seconds and top speed of 160+ mph.

As well as physical enhancements to the body such as extra welds and stiffer suspension, the IONIQ 5 N also has some interesting technology designed to make it appeal to ‘petrolheads’.  This includes an ‘N Drift Optimizer’ which helps to maintain drift angles by balancing multiple vehicle controls responding to real-time inputs. An integrated Torque Kick Drift function allows the driver to simulate the clutch kick action of rear-wheel-driven ICE vehicles for drifting.

The 5 N produces up to 640bhp from its two motors

​To give more driver feedback, the IONIQ 5 N offers two functions to engage enthusiasts: N e-shift and N Active Sound+. N e-shift simulates the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission of internal combustion engine N cars, simulating gearshifts by controlling motor torque output and mimicking the jolt feeling between shifts. 

N Active Sound+ is paired with N e-shift and incorporates a 10-speaker system (eight internal, two external) that offers three distinct sound themes. The ‘Ignition’ theme simulates the sound of the i30 and KONA N’s 2.0T engines and ‘Evolution’ provides a signature high-performance sound inspired by the RN22e, the E-GMP based Rolling Lab concept. The ‘Supersonic’ theme is a unique concept inspired by twin-engine fighter jets, featuring variable volume during cornering. 

Options include metallic paint at £665, Matte Paint for £885 and a large glass roof for £1,250.

Hyundai IONIQ 5 N Review

Active sound can mimic sporty petrol cars to increase driver enjoyment