Ioniq 5 N is a bigger deal for Hyundai than i30 N

Hyundai’s N Performance arm is about to undertake its most important launch yet, with the Ioniq 5 N said to be a bigger deal than the cult favourite i30 N.

Wheels was invited to sample the new Ioniq 5 N – Hyundai is not labelling it as a performance SUV, hot hatch, or anything else – alongside HMCA product development manager Tim Rodgers who was heavily involved in the car’s chassis tune.

This is a new formula. This is a new type of car... but I think (hopefully) history will say that this car kicked off something

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The last question we asked Tim before getting behind the wheel was this: is the Ioniq 5 N as big a deal as the i30 N? “It’s bigger, I reckon”, he replied.

“Because with i30 N, we made our statement, and we made it clear, but we didn't write any new rules. The formula was already there.

“This is a new formula. This is a new type of car. It's a new niche, but I think (hopefully) history will say that this car kicked off something. Let's see, but that's what we thought about it.”

That's been our engineering challenge this entire time... How do we make it enjoyable? How do we make it emotional?

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How was Hyundai Australia involved in the process?

Tim and his team were brought into the development earlier than ever before for the Ioniq 5 N, as were engineers and product planners from North America.

Not only was Hyundai Australia able to give feedback on suspension, chassis, and powertrain calibration, but also more nuanced specification details.

“When I'm there embedded with the engineers, I can talk to them about the product stuff and say things like, ‘Hey, guys, you’ve got to remember this is a $100K-plus car, so this is the expectation from the customer” explained Tim – perhaps that’s why the Ioniq 5 N’s bucket seats are fitted with ventilation and the EV6 GT’s aren’t.

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As for where customers are coming from, Tim’s insight is that Hyundai has “people coming out of the woodwork for this car… We can't pinpoint it and pigeonhole it into one type of demographic.”

When you look at what else offers so much grunt and chassis tech for $111,000, there isn’t much out there. Cars like the Mercedes-AMG A45 and its GLA 45 relative, and the Audi RS3 and its RSQ3 relation seem the most logical match. The BYD Seal Performance might not be far off for straight-line speed, but the Ioniq 5 N’s talent runs far deeper.

Tim even noted that current owners of i30 N Lines had expressed interest in the new flagship N product. It’s this brand loyalty that’s most interesting, with Hyundai only really making enthusiast cars since the i30 N’s 2017 reveal, the events supporting performance driving have contributed massively to the brand’s cult following.

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Hyundai was keen to capture the i30 N’s DNA above all else – and that's what makes the Ioniq 5 N so much more than its 3.4-second 0-100km/h sprint.

“What we recognise about EVs is the easy bit is making them go fast in a straight line, right? We know that. The formula is simple: big battery, big motor, 4WD, grippy tyres, done. 0-100km/h in three-point-something. How do we do the rest of the car?

“And that's been our engineering challenge this entire time: how do we make that power accessible? How do we make it comfortable? How do we make it fun? How do we make it enjoyable? How do we make it emotional? They’re the questions we keep asking ourselves throughout this whole process.”

“And I think, because we're talking about this sort of stuff more so than the 478kW, we hope that we'll find the customer that values that’, he added.