Despite its preview in Malaysia earlier this month, it’s Thailand who beat us to the punch with the official launch of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N yesterday. Well okay, they’ve previewed it as early as April too, we’re just jealous.
Hyundai’s flagship performance EV hot hatch-SUV-thing is priced at THB3,790,000 (approx. RM480k) in the Kingdom of Smiles, or roughly double the price of the range topping regular Ioniq 5. While that might sound prohibitively expensive, it’s not exactly surprising for the Thais, given that performance vehicles there have always been significantly more expensive than what we get here (see: Honda Civic Type R, Toyota GR Corolla).
Nevertheless, the Thais now have access to one of the most exciting EVs to date, boasting a dual motor setup making 650 hp and 770 Nm of torque (in N Grin Boost mode). The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is capable of accelerating from a standstill to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, onward to a top speed of 260 km/h. But what makes the Ioniq 5 N interesting is not just its raw grunt.
Instead, it’s the unique performance features that truly make the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N stand out from a sea of “performance” EVs. There’s the N Drift Optimiser feature for easy sideways action, the N Active Sound+ function that pipes synthetic engine sounds (with pops and bangs!) into the cabin, and even an N e-Shift feature that simulates gear shifts like an eight speed dual clutch transmission.
Heck, there’s even a Torque Kick Drift function to simulate a clutch kick! Really, the best way to describe the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is that it’s an EV that doesn’t want to be one.
It also looks the part, too, with a set of almost-comically-oversized 21-inch wheels, a bigger brake kit, and an aggressive bodykit a 13-year-old might dream of. Inside, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N gets an N-specific steering wheel with quick access buttons to the performance settings, plus a pair of bucket seats for the front to hold you in place while you slide your way around a corner.
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Given that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N has already been previewed here in Malaysia, it probably (read: hopefully) won’t be too much longer before we see the performance EV launched here.
Just hopefully Hyundai Sime Darby Motors has figured out pricing on their end, otherwise it might end up with the same fate as the critically-acclaimed i30 N, being cast to the wayside by Malaysian enthusiasts due to it being too pricey…
