Hyundai is doubling down on its high-performance Hyundai N brand by unveiling a range of N Performance Parts for the Ioniq 5 N at the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon of all places. In effect, they managed to outshine the other significant performance EV SUV at the show—the Nissan Ariya Nismo.
Unveiled as the Ioniq 5 N NPX1, it previews an array of N-specific enhancements that will be available for purchase later this year. The catalogue will include a carbon front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser, rear wing spoiler, lightweight hybrid carbon wheels, high-performance brake pads, and lowering springs.
If you need some reminding, the Ioniq 5 N features a dual-motor setup with 600 horsepower (650 horsepower on over boost) and 740 Nm of torque. It hits the 100 km/h mark in just 3.4 seconds, while top speed is at 260 km/h. It comes with all sorts of electronic wizardry including a single-speed transmission tuned to simulate an 8-speed dual clutch. It does this by controlling the motor output and providing “jolts” between shifts. There’s even a “Torque Kick Drift” function that simulates the clutch kick action of a rear-wheel driven combustion engine vehicle when initiating a drift.
Hyundai has also confirmed that it will expand the availability of N Performance Parts for all N models as well.
Honestly, why would Hyundai have to manufacture parts for the performance versions of their cars when there are other marques already in existence?
ReplyDeleteFord, for example, has been what I would suggest to have Hyundai partner with the former, but with the Blue Oval no longer marketing passenger cars (except for Mustang etc) means there could be no choice if Hyundai were instead rebadging Peugeot's products wholly - all of which are sold with the Jeep and other brands of the Stellantis umbrella - just as Toyota enforced itself to rebadge the BMW Z4 for the current-generation Supra.
That means, Hyundai may even end up merging with Stellantis and have all of the former's products to be rebadged variants of the latter through Peugeot, for example the i20 and its N variant (not sold in Southeast Asia) would be sharing technology all along with the Peugeot 2008. But moreover, Genesis has rear-wheel drive models so this could also benefit Stellantis since fans of their past-present RWD models (Dodge Viper, Chrysler 300C, Dodge Charger) are deeply concerned that they'll be replaced by cars they're not to appreciate - because for examples the Viper is always V10-engined and the rest are V8.