The Shocking Hyundai IONIQ 5 N

Ladies and gentlemen, hold onto your earpods and your wallets because Hyundai has done it again. The IONIQ 5 N, the spicy sibling in the IONIQ family, just bagged not one, but two prestigious awards, cementing its place in the EV hall of fame. That’s right, folks, this electric hot hatch has been crowned Best EV Hot Hatch at the 2024 TopGear.com Electric Awards and the best electric performance car in the world by none other than CAR Magazine. Let’s dive into the juicy details, shall we?

First off, let’s talk about the TopGear.com Electric Awards. Now in their fifth year, these awards are basically the Oscars of the electric car world. And guess what? The IONIQ 5 N strutted down the red carpet and stole the show. The expert panel at TopGear praised Hyundai for injecting a healthy dose of fun into this electric master piece. Jack Rix, the editor-in-chief of TopGear, had this to say: “In a world where pure electric hot hatches are a rarity, Hyundai has clocked the game at its first attempt. Experimental, capable, but best of all filled with a sense of humour that so many EVs lack, the IONIQ 5 N is a benchmark moment for the electric car.”

And it’s not just TopGear that’s smitten. CAR Magazine’s team of experts took the IONIQ 5 N for a spin at the Nürburgring and came back grinning like kids in a candy store. They put this hot hatch through its paces in a seven-car shoot-out, which included some ridiculously expensive competitors—one of them costing over £2 million (about R46 million, for those counting). Yet, it was the IONIQ 5 N that emerged victorious. Ben Miller, CAR Magazine editor, said, “Among a host of great cars, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N proved scintillating from behind the wheel, driving like a love letter to some of the great four-wheel-drive hot hatches of the past and present, despite lacking an engine and gearbox.”

So, what makes the IONIQ 5 N so special? For starters, it combines the E-GMP platform of the standard IONIQ 5 with some serious motorsport-bred tech from Hyundai’s N division. This isn’t just your average EV—it’s a beast. With electric motors that spin up to 21,000 r/min and deliver up to 478 kW (when you engage the N Grin Boost, of course), this car can rocket from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds. And if you’re brave enough to take it to the track, it can hit a top speed of 260 km/h.

But it’s not all about raw power. The IONIQ 5 N is packed with features that make every drive a joyride. It has a strengthened steering column for better feedback, Electronic Controlled Suspension that adapts to your driving style, and a suite of sophisticated electronic controls. The N Pedal, for instance, gives you instant turn-in and enhanced throttle sensitivity, making cornering a thrill. And let’s not forget the N e-shift and N Active Sound+, which simulate the feel and sound of a traditional petrol engine. It’s like driving an orchestra.

Since its debut, the IONIQ 5 N has been racking up awards faster than a kid collecting sweets on Halloween. It was named World Performance Car in the World Car Awards, TopGear.com’s 2023 Car of the Year, and even recorded the fastest electric SUV lap time at the Nürburgring Nordschleife with Germany’s Sport Auto. Talk about a show-off!

So, if you’re in the market for an EV that doesn’t just drive but dances, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N is your ticket to ride. It makes a serious statement. And that statement is loud and clear: electric can be exhilarating. Strap in, the future of hot hatches is electric, and Hyundai is leading the charge!

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