Hyundai IONIQ 6 N: more extreme electric performance

Following the IONIQ 5, it is now the IONIQ 6 saloon’s turn to receive the high-performance badge from Hyundai’s N Performance division - with even more extreme results.

There may be more powerful and faster electric saloons, but few appear to be as focused as the Hyundai IONIQ 6 N.

Hyundai IONIQ 6 N performance and chassis

It inherits the IONIQ 5 N’s powertrain - two motors, one on each axle, producing up to 650 hp (478 kW) and 770 Nm - as well as its 84 kWh battery, although its range has yet to be announced. However, the new IONIQ 6 N reaches 100 km/h more quickly, completing the sprint in 3.2 seconds (-0.2 seconds), and has a top speed of 257 km/h.

The Hyundai IONIQ 6 N takes this formula a step further. Its centre of gravity sits lower, the suspension geometry has been reworked and the body structure has been reinforced.

The braking system has also been upgraded, with larger discs - 400 mm at the front and 360 mm at the rear - alongside greater use of regenerative braking.

Aggression in the right measure

On the outside, the IONIQ 6 N clearly expresses its true character. It is 60 mm wider, while the front gains a much larger grille with active shutters and a new splitter. The side skirts have also been revised, and it wears exclusive forged 20-inch wheels.

At the rear, the drama intensifies with the addition of an imposing “swan-neck” rear wing - with an even larger alternative available - and an enlarged air diffuser. Every added or altered component is functional, actively contributing to aerodynamics or cooling rather than serving as mere decoration.

Inside, it stands apart from other IONIQ 6 models through its sports seats, increased Alcantara trim and a selection of dedicated buttons for driving modes and other functions on the bespoke steering wheel. The digital instrument display can also be customised to show the desired information.

A PlayStation for the real world

What sets the IONIQ 6 N apart from other electric cars is the way it brings the digital world into the physical one - as already seen in the IONIQ 5 N. It is almost like playing Gran Turismo… in the real world.

Like the vast majority of electric cars, it has no gearbox, yet the N e-shift system replicates the gear changes of an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, including torque interruptions, steering-wheel paddles and even virtual “heel-and-toe” downshifts.

Combined with the N Active Sound+ system, it can also sound like a combustion-engined car, offering three sound profiles - one of them inspired by a fighter jet.

Hyundai N says these features, which simulate a car with a combustion engine, can raise driving engagement beyond that of any other electric vehicle, although they continue to divide enthusiasts. Which side are you on?

Likely to prove less divisive is the N Drift Optimizer system, which can turn this 2.2-tonne machine - its weight is estimated to be similar to that of the IONIQ 5 N - into a drift machine.

Compared with the IONIQ 5 N system, it now offers more settings to customise the start of the manoeuvre, the angle and wheelspin. It seems the ideal recipe for increasing enjoyment in inverse proportion to tyre life.

When does it arrive?

The Hyundai IONIQ 6 N is expected to arrive this year, although neither a specific date nor its price has been announced. For reference, the IONIQ 5 N costs almost €80,000.