Hyundai debuts sporting Ioniq 6 N

When is a Hyundai not a Hyundai? We all know the Korean brand is synonymous with everyday practicality and exceptional value for money, which is why we’d never suggest you shouldn’t lease a Hyundai. But does it still count as a Hyundai when it has 600 horses crammed under the bonnet and an ‘N’ badge on the back?

The new Hyundai Ioniq 6 N attempts to answer that question.

To be clear, of course it’s a Hyundai. It says so right there on the car. If anything, it’s probably our perception of the brand that needs a slight adjustment because it is obviously more than capable of building a car that makes a mockery of those stereotypes.

At its heart, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 is an award-winning executive saloon. Hyundai took a bit of a chance with the design, but with plenty of positive responses to the ultra-fast charging, high-tech interior, and striking looks, that risk certainly appears to have paid off.

It offers a choice of either a 220bhp rear-wheel-drive powertrain or an all-wheel drive option that increases the power output to almost 320bhp. Both utilise the same 77.4kWh battery, offering a range of up to 338 miles and featuring the latest 800v architecture that allows for ultra-rapid charging. It’s also available in two trim levels, Premium or Ultimate.

That all sounds rightly marvellous, but apparently it isn’t enough.

With its origins firmly embedded in electric motorsport, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N is redefining the boundaries of high-performance electrification. Following its dynamic debut at this year’s Festival of Speed, Hyundai thrilled Goodwood’s crowd of driving enthusiasts with the Ioniq 6 N’s cutting-edge innovations in suspension geometry, immersive sound and drift control, taking the N brand performance to new levels of excitement.

Beneath its sculpted exterior lies a chassis and suspension setup developed to increase cornering precision and maximise grip. N e-Shift, Hyundai’s innovative shift control system, simulates motorsport-inspired close gear ratios to heighten responsiveness and strengthen the driver's connection with the car. The shift system also works with the N Launch Control, N Drift Optimizer, and N Grin Boost — all of which sound suitably exhilarating.

In many respects then, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N is a racing car for the road – local laws being adhered to at all times, of course - which means there have been a few other tweaks to make sure it behaves like one.

Hyundai has fitted a larger 84kWh battery for more power and given the Ioniq 6 N an all-wheel drive setup similar to the standard model, with one motor for the front wheels and one for the rear.

And that’s pretty much where the similarities end.

Where the standard car has to make do with a paltry 320bhp, the N version generates a whopping 600bhp, rising to 640bhp when you hit the boost button. To put that into easily understandable terms, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N can hit 62mph in just 3.2 seconds and has a top speed in the region of 160mph.

Supercar numbers and a Hyundai price tag.... why on earth wouldn’t you want some of that in your life?

Although, if you do want to lease one, we’re afraid you’re going to have to wait a little longer before we find out when the new Hyundai Ioniq 6 N will be available to order in the UK.