Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 16

ROAD
READY
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N makes e-Shift feel real
curb weight, but it's a hoot to drive.
Dual electric motors are fed by a battery
pack whose higher-density NCM
cells boost capacity from 77.4 to 84 kWh,
versus a standard Ioniq 5. Sitting in pit
lane, we dialed up an Endurance mode
that optimizes battery temperatures for
longer track stints. A Sprint mode maximizes
power for all-out time attacks.
A two-stage inverter is another key,
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N successfully brings ICE shifting feel to the normally smooth EV drivetrain.
Albert Biermann, the über-engineer
tapped to lead Hyundai Motor Group's
R&D and vehicle development, officially
retired in 2021. But the fingerprints of the
longtime chief engineer of BMW's fabled
M performance division are all over a run
of acclaimed models from Hyundai, Kia
and the Genesis luxury brand.
The electric 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is
the latest with a seemingly magic touch.
Literally, in the case of a world-first
transmission that simulates the shifts,
revs and sounds of an eight-speed, dualclutch
gearbox and ICE engine. Yet this
paddle-shfted " N e-Shift " is an entirely
digital overlay that disguises a familiar
single-speed EV tranmission.
N e-Shift is the nerve center for a
641-hpn (478 kW) crossover that's designed
to rock on racetracks for about
20 minutes, recharge in 18 minutes, and
do it over again. Engineers from
Hyundai's N Division logged more than
6,200 brutal development miles (9,978
km) at Germany's Nürburgring
Nordschleife circuit, 12.9 miles (21 km)
at a time. Other tech was derived from
Hyundai's World Rally Championship
cars. The ultimate goal was not to
merely set track records for production
electric SUVs, but to make the Ioniq 5 N
as fun and engaging as an old-school
ICE car.
16 June 2024
SAE Media was invited to Weathertech
Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey,
California. Hyundai's first bit of mischief
after the track's stomach-flipping
Corkscrew: a Formula 1-style push-topass
button (called " N Grin Boost " ) lifts
hp from 601 (448 kW) to 641 for 10-second
bursts. Torque rises from 545 lb ft
(739 Nm) to 568 (770 Nm). Hyundai says
the Ioniq 5 N takes 3.25 seconds to hit 60
mph (96 km/h), but we suspect it's closer
to three seconds flat. Top speed is 162
mph (261 km/h). The Hyundai may be
chunky, with a 4,861-pound (2,205 kg)
boosting performance and efficiency
while keeping temperatures in check.
Like conventional inverters, this unit
converts DC battery current to AC juice
to drive the electric motors. Here, a second
stage boosts current, rather than
voltage, before it reaches the motors.
That amplifies motor output and reduces
energy losses during conversion.
Lavish upgrades boost this charming,
'80s-adjacent tall hatchback to serious
track spec. Battery and motor cooling are
improved with a more-robust chiller, as
well as low-temp and high-temp radiators.
A gaping grille and active air flaps
boost airflow or trim drag. A 10% stiffer
chassis adds 42 more welding points and
6.9 feet (2.1 m) of added structural adhesives.
Springs, bushings and three-position
electronic dampers are retuned.
Integrated drive axles are strengthened to
handle massive horsepower and torque.
The chassis and driver's seat are lowered,
and a two-inch (51 mm) wider
One downside to the Ioniq 5 N is the overwhelming amount of setting choices.
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
BOTH IMAGES: HYUNDAI

Automotive Engineering - June 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automotive Engineering - June 2024