RE: Hyundai Ioniq 6 N officially arrives with 650hp

RE: Hyundai Ioniq 6 N officially arrives with 650hp

Today

Hyundai Ioniq 6 N officially arrives with 650hp

The Ioniq 5N was an EV gamechanger - here's how the 6 aims to raise the bar that bit further


It says a lot that, among the million-dollar exotica and a dozen black Land Rovers, the debut of an electric Hyundai is probably the most important PH reveal of the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Thanks to the amazing Ioniq 5 N, the arrival of an Ioniq 6 equivalent is really big news. Not just for EVs, not just for Hyundai; it’s a significant story for everyone interested in fast cars.

Because this is no mere rebody of an Ioniq 5. That’d make the 6 very good already, but it’s also not really the Hyundai way. While plenty is familiar - 84kWh battery, two motors, up to 650hp, top speed beyond 155mph - there’s plenty that’s been altered as well. 

Even an interior that looks broadly familiar has been tweaked with the addition of N Ambient Shift Light; yep, another N tech add on. Now, when changing gear with N E-Shift, lights around the cabin will flash when approaching the limiter. And don’t pretend like you wouldn’t want at least one go with those. Hyundai  believes that the ‘synchronized ambient glow transforms the cockpit into an arena where every gear change is not just felt but seen, further enhancing driver immersion.’

While the shifts carry over unchanged, the sounds will be different from 5 to 6. The N Active Sound is now N Active Sound +, with a new Acoustic Sound Processor; Ignition and Evolution are familiar, with Lightspeed now added for ‘futuristic sci-fi tones’. While the sound of the 5 N worked well in terms of responding to throttle, what you actually heard did feel quite synthetic. Hopefully it’ll be improved now. As part of a new N Drift Optimiser, which now boasts more configurability to tailor how silly the skid is, Ioniq 6 N drivers will be able to shift gears. (Previously it was only possible in the EV mode). 

While the 6 is clearly a very different shape to the 5, there are some extra visual cues that would suggest it’s going to be quite different to drive. Look at the wheels, for example, fully two inches smaller in diameter than its sibling at 20 inch. Forged and unique to the N, they should provide a comfier a ride compared to a fairly strict 5. Behind the new rims sit new dampers, which now have something called stroke sensors in them; Hyundai says it means more adjustment is possible than before for ‘improved ride quality and more predictable, responsive handling’. While it’s still going to be heavy (notably kerbweight, range and efficiency haven’t been communicated yet), a lower centre of gravity for 6 compared to 5 should make for even keener, more composed cornering. 

We were talked around the 6 N by Sven Risch, Senior Engineer Brakes and Chassis Controls for the car. You’d like him; he does air oversteer when talking about the 10:90 torque split of drift mode. He’s also very proud of the braking changes implemented for the 6, again with driver connection and track performance in mind. There’s now additional regen as part of the braking effort, up to 0.6g’s worth; even in the ABS, 0.35g of braking force can be provided by the motors. It gives the physical rotors a break, and helps top up the battery under hard use - such as on a track day. The brake pedal travel is 5mm longer now, the feel has been modified, and a bushing tweaked also. This is how much the details are prioritised. And look at the size of those discs - 400mm up front. Tyres are Pirelli P Zero 5s, uniquely designed for the 6 N. 

Additional new bits for this Hyundai include a TPMS Custom Mode, which allows the driver to set a target tyre pressure (again you’d have to imagine with track use in mind), plus revisions to the thermal management of the battery. Now known as N Battery (of course), there’s a beefier coolant heater to reduce conditioning time; usually handy for prepping the battery ahead of charging, but now to ensure the 6 is ‘always ready to perform’. It means the preconditioning for drag races, sprint races or endurance races should happen faster. 

See, not just a 5 N in a new suit. Very much not just a speedier 6 either. There’s the colour to mark it out, naturally - there’ll be a new Performance Blue Pearl, plus grey, white, black and even gold - and the spoiler, but also a proper stance to the N as well. A hard one to convey with pics, so check it out at FOS if possible; totally overhauled geometry will help the handling, but also ensures the 6N sits on its wheels really nicely. 

“With Ioniq 6 N, Hyundai N aims to elevate its offerings, enticing drivers with electric powertrains that offer high-performance enthusiasts a thrilling new avenue to electrify their passion both on the road and the track,” said José Muñoz, Hyundai’s CEO and President. Typically those sorts of claims are treated with some circumspection, but given what’s been achieved with the 5 N there’s every reason to believe the 6 could raise the bar yet again. We’ll know for certain at some point in 2026. 


Author
Discussion

ChrisCh86

Original Poster:

1,039 posts

59 months

Yesterday (12:42)
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I love the idea of this (as a car is infinitely better in my mind as an EV than a SUV), but there's two things that just don't work:

1. It's a saloon with limited access to the boot (i.e. no hatch). Would be much better as an estate!

2. The facelift has made it look worse! The black bits just look weird.

At least it should go and stop better than the 5N though thanks to it's lower centre of gravity and smaller wheels.

620S

422 posts

213 months

Yesterday (12:47)
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No matter how much power it ain't going to sort the looks!

yme402

524 posts

117 months

Yesterday (12:49)
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One of the most sensational looking mainstream cars of recent years.

pSyCoSiS

3,894 posts

220 months

Yesterday (12:51)
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Interesting engineering and technology effort has gone into this. But, to me, it just looks weird.

No doubt, it will be fast and capable - kudos to Hyundai for going down this route.

WPA

11,939 posts

129 months

Yesterday (12:52)
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The changes have not helped the looks, just looks weird to me plus the wheels look really small as well

Freakuk

3,898 posts

166 months

Yesterday (12:53)
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Literally read nothing, just cannot look beyond it's looks.

TikTak

2,265 posts

34 months

Yesterday (12:58)
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I actually really like the look of these. It's interesting. Think the tweaks and colour actually make it more subtle than the normal car which is probably a good thing.

Hate the black wheels and as said above they do look a little small which the dark colour probably doesn't help.

Otherwise as hot EVs go if I was in the market (and how good the 5 is) it'd make the shortlist if it wasn't crazily priced. Which it will be.

LexiconUK

69 posts

170 months

Yesterday (13:00)
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Reminds me of black hammerite painted sills from years gone by...

salmanorguk

242 posts

107 months

Yesterday (13:03)
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I love it and think its keeps Hyundai's hot streak going.

Its not beautiful, but certainly not ugly - instead I think its very interesting. Plus its not using 'in-you-face vulgarity' or 'shock-and-awe' value like BMWs designs of late.

Also love how theyve used smaller wheels, new dampers etc which makes it seem the engineering team had prioirty over the marketing and finance teams.

(Its a bit of an apples v oranges comparison but) given the choice I'd take this over the new M5.

GreatScott2016

1,867 posts

103 months

Yesterday (13:04)
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I’m actually laughing, what a hideous design from every angle. The power is irrelevant when a car looks like this.

Truckosaurus

12,639 posts

299 months

Yesterday (13:11)
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Rear bumper looks like you've had a crash and got a replacement from the scrappy but they didn't have one in the correct colour.

Not convinced by the black wheels or the big spoiler. Otherwise, I quite like the styling, at least it isn't another dull electric SUV/crossover like most other things.

topboss

359 posts

268 months

Yesterday (13:11)
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It's going to need to drive very well with looks like that to get over.

markclow

127 posts

146 months

Yesterday (13:26)
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Really nice, bet its so much fun to drive!

cerb4.5lee

37,190 posts

195 months

Yesterday (13:26)
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I think it is a funny looking thing as well. However, Hyundai do seem to be on a good run in terms of all things electric though for sure.

Water Fairy

6,135 posts

170 months

Yesterday (13:26)
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Curious profile aside, IF I had to have an EV it would be something like this rather than one of the rather dull offerings from the mainstream brands.

Well done Hyundai


el romeral

1,598 posts

152 months

Yesterday (13:29)
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Holy cow, we have reached a whole new level of ugly here, with bags of droopiness thrown in.

Clivey

5,394 posts

219 months

Yesterday (13:31)
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salmanorguk said:
Its not beautiful, but certainly not ugly - instead I think its very interesting. Plus its not using 'in-you-face vulgarity' or 'shock-and-awe' value like BMWs designs of late.

Also love how theyve used smaller wheels, new dampers etc which makes it seem the engineering team had prioirty over the marketing and finance teams.
In a turn up for the books, I'm actually about to defend an EV on here biglaugh but I can appreciate Hyundai's approach with this one, even if I wouldn't want one myself!

It is an interesting design and IMO looks much better than BMW's recent "efforts". It's also good to see it's not a crossover or an overly bloated blob that looks like a platform shoe!

Hopefully the dampers and smaller wheels thing can become more of a trend. - Actual race cars rarely use anything bigger than an 18" wheel and to some of us, 21"s with rubber band tyres make the car look more "poser" than purposeful.

Wab1974uk

1,153 posts

42 months

Yesterday (13:54)
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Looks awful.

superbeep

2 posts

Yesterday (13:55)
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This is better than Ioniq 5N , but still too expensive for that money ,especially in the Uk.

tripleB

38 posts

103 months

Yesterday (13:57)
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IMO would be immediately improved by being all one colour - the black over blue just makes the back look odd! Should also have been a roof hinged hatch for the boot, rather than than that tiny little opening - you’d never get a pushchair in it…