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Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
Hyundai amps up EV performance with Ioniq 6 N launch
Korean automaker unleashes 650-horsepower speedster at UK's premier motor event Hyundai Motor unveiled the Ioniq 6 N at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex, England, on Thursday, bolstering its high-performance all-electric vehicle resume. '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 Jose Munoz, CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. The Ioniq 6 N's key technical advancements, such as its fully redesigned suspension geometry and an improved virtual gear shift system called the N e-Shift, led to a maximum 650 horsepower and 770 newton-meters of torque. According to the automaker, the powerful acceleration system allows the Ioniq 6 N to reach 100 kilometers per hour in just 3.2 seconds from standstill with a top speed of 257 kph. The new high-performance EV measures 4,935 millimeters in length, 1,940 mm in width and 1,495 mm in height with a wheelbase of 2,965 mm. It also includes an 84-kilowatt-hour high-voltage battery. The EV's projected driving range was not disclosed as the automaker is expected to announce the figure at each regional market launch. Hyundai Motor highlighted that the Ioniq 6 N was developed on the three-pillar philosophy of the high-performance N brand: corner rascal, racetrack capability and everyday sports car. The high-performance EV boasts N Battery, the brand's revamped battery management system that can adapt to various track driving scenarios for higher and longer-lasting performance. Donning a new color named Performance Blue Pearl, the Ioniq 6 N exhibits a reengineered chassis beneath its shiny exterior for better track performance while maintaining the comfort of daily driving. A lowered roll center also offers greater stability at high speeds and an improved cornering grip. According to Hyundai Motor, the Ioniq 6 N has been equipped with new stroke-sensing electronically controlled suspension dampers, which allow for a wide range of damping force adjustments for more responsive handling in different driving conditions. 'Ioniq 6 N combines formidable power, sophisticated battery management, aerodynamic mastery and advanced suspension systems to deliver a compelling blend of speed, stability and comfort, setting new benchmarks in modern automotive engineering,' said Manfred Harrer, head of vehicle development tech unit at Hyundai Motor. Hyundai Motor once again chose this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed for the world premiere of the Ioniq 6 N. The Korean automaker unveiled its first all-electric high-performance sport utility vehicle, the Ioniq 5 N, at the same international motorsports event in 2023. Hyundai Motor plans to display the Ioniq 6 N at Lotte Premium Outlet in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, for the first time in Korea from Saturday to July 20.
Auto Express
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
New Hyundai Ioniq 6 N prototype review: the EV that thinks it's a track toy
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 N is like a PlayStation fantasy come to life – only faster, louder, and road-legal. It's wildly customisable, loaded with clever tech, and, crucially, an absolute blast to drive. We can't wait to try it on European roads later this year. It all started with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, which launched around 18 months ago and made a thunderous entrance into the performance EV market. It didn't just handle like a proper hot hatch, clever software also simulated gearshifts, combustion-engine noise and exhaust notes so convincingly it could give you goosebumps. Advertisement - Article continues below Now, Hyundai has taken things a step further with the Ioniq 6 N – and we've had an exclusive drive of a disguised prototype at the brand's Namyang R&D test facility near Seoul in South Korea. It's safe to say the 6 N means business. The brains behind the madness is Manfred Harrer, Hyundai's new Head of R&D, formerly of BMW, Porsche – and even Apple, where he worked on the secretive Apple Car project. 'We basically developed this car from the ground up,' Harrer tells us. And it shows. The upgrades begin with wide Pirelli P Zero tyres (275/35) and a beefy braking system with oversized, ventilated discs. The track has been widened by 60mm over the standard Hyundai Ioniq 6 and the 6 N is 10mm longer overall. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below View Ioniq 6 View Ioniq 6 View Ioniq 6 View Ioniq 6 Active air curtains at the front reduce drag, while a substantial rear wing generates 100kg of downforce at 155mph. We're told that even the trademark light blue N paint has been subtly reworked – not that you can tell on our camouflaged test car. With all-wheel drive, a 50:50 weight balance, and a lower centre of gravity than the 5 N, the Ioniq 6 N is already better set up for high-performance driving. But that wasn't enough. The N team also reworked the brakes and the electronic diff, plus the steering and suspension geometry. It's all paired with a set of ZF adaptive dampers that respond far more quickly than before. Advertisement - Article continues below 'The improved hardware allowed us to take the software to a whole new level,' Harrer says. Like the 5 N, the Ioniq 6 N runs an 800V architecture for ultra-fast charging. Final power figures remain under wraps, but we're told to expect at least 650bhp and 770Nm of torque. What matters more is how the car uses that output. Hyundai's software team has been busy, and the result is a power delivery that mimics that of a highly tuned ICE car in uncanny ways. If you shut your eyes (not that we recommend it), you'd swear there's a turbocharged engine under the bonnet. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below That's helped by the E-Shift system, which recreates the feel of an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox – complete with shift paddles, torque interruptions, and even the kind of head-nod jolt you'd get from a gearchange in a conventional ICE car's transmission. The simulated gear ratios are tighter, the virtual engine note (blasted through the speakers) more aggressive, and the overall experience more visceral than in the Ioniq 5 N. Once you're rolling, the Ioniq 6 N feels rear-driven in character – even more so than the 5 N – and yet remarkably adjustable. The suspension settings, managed through the central touchscreen, can be tailored in fine detail to suit personal preference or track conditions. Despite its hefty 2.3-tonne weight, the Ioniq 6 N resists understeer brilliantly – a credit to the active torque vectoring system that juggles power between the wheels with pinpoint accuracy. The steering, meanwhile, is meaty and communicative, and the chassis is alive with feedback. Advertisement - Article continues below But the star of the show is the software. The N Track Manager lets you fine-tune your set-up in seconds, turning the Ioniq 6 N into your ideal track weapon without needing spanners or aftermarket mods. And then there's the Drift Optimiser. Like a cheat code for sideways antics, it lets you dial in drift angle, slip limits and response thresholds in multiple steps – offering a digital experience that feels like playing Gran Turismo, except that you're in the real world. Whether you're a seasoned drifter or just learning the ropes, you can explore the car's limits safely and progressively. When and where it's safe to do so! From our first impressions, then, it seems that Hyundai has done it again. Following the riotously fun Ioniq 5 N, the Korean brand has applied its high-performance N treatment to the sleeker Ioniq 6 – and the result is a four-door EV that could excite even the most hardened petrolhead. But fun like this doesn't come cheap. The Ioniq 5 N already starts at just over £65,000, and the Ioniq 6 N is expected to top £70,000 when it arrives later this year. It's a far cry from the days of affordable N cars like the i20 N and i30 N. Harrer acknowledges this, hinting at more accessible N-branded EVs in the future: 'We don't want to lose our fans,' he tells us. Model: Hyundai Ioniq 6 N Price: £70,000 (est) Powertrain: 84kWh battery (est), 2x e-motors Power: 650bhp/770Nm (est) Transmission: Single-speed auto, four-wheel drive 0-62mph: 3.4 seconds (est) Top speed: 160mph (est) Range: 300 miles (est) Max charging: 260kW (10-80% in 18 mins) Size (L/W/H): TBC On sale: Late 2025 Thinking about a Hyundai Ioniq 6 of your own? Compare prices for this EV and its rivals with our Find A Car service... Range Rover Sport SV gets massive £35k price drop as it enters series-production Range Rover Sport SV gets massive £35k price drop as it enters series-production There's also a new SV Black trim, and a Range Rover Sport Stealth Package for non SVs Arrivederci Roma: new Ferrari Amalfi slots in as brand's latest entry-level model Arrivederci Roma: new Ferrari Amalfi slots in as brand's latest entry-level model A slick new look and more power are the headlines for Ferrari's new baby, but it's probably some simple new buttons that will get customers' attention Geely is coming to the UK, and its assault will start with EX5 SUV Geely is coming to the UK, and its assault will start with EX5 SUV Geely has looked to Lotus to ensure it's new electric SUV lives up to our driving expectations
Miami Herald
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
First Genesis Hybrid SUV To Take On BMW X5 In 2026 Showdown
For a relatively young carmaker like Genesis, there are still many firsts ahead for the company as it slowly aligns with the more complete model lineups from the likes of Mercedes-Benz and BMW. The next "first" for Genesis is a hybrid - even though it has a few EVs, Hyundai's luxury arm has yet to release a hybrid. That's set to change next year, as a new report from Korea JoongAng Daily states that the brand's first hybrid will go into production in September 2026. It's not the only hybrid planned, as Genesis deviates from an earlier goal to become an all-electric brand by 2025. Mass production of the Genesis GV80 hybrid is scheduled to begin in September 2026, with a GV70 hybrid to follow in March 2027. "The production of the GV80 hybrid will start in September 2026 in Ulsan, while the fully revamped GV80 hybrid is slated for the second half of 2028," said a source that was familiar with the brand's production timelines. Although a market launch date wasn't given, it's possible that the new GV80 hybrid could arrive before the end of 2026, and it should boost what are already strong Genesis sales. Genesis is targeting hybridization of its larger models first, as these are likely to sell strongly in the United States. In the GV80 hybrid, we expect an electric motor to be paired with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder turbo engine. Mercedes uses a similar setup in the GLE 450e, although that's a plug-in hybrid. Nevertheless, this will be one of the GV80 hybrid's main rivals. We do expect the GV80 hybrid to comfortably undercut the GLE 450e's starting price of $71,350, though. The same goes for the BMW X5 xDrive50e, which starts at $73,800. Interestingly, BMW has plans for an even hotter X5 hybrid. Genesis already offers more features for a lower price than either of these rivals, and a hybrid GV80 will give brand snobs another reason to sit up and take notice. After the GV80, hybrid powertrains are also expected for the GV70 SUV and G80 sedan. Of the three, the most intriguing update will be for the GV70, which is also set to get an EREV (Extended Range Electric Vehicle) variant. With this setup, a gas engine will provide power for the electric motors, but it won't drive the wheels directly. The conventional GV70 and G80 hybrids are likely to use the same 2.5-liter turbo engine as the GV80 hybrid, but possibly in different states of tune. Ultimately, Genesis is taking a more varied approach to powertrains over the next few years, instead of working towards an EV-only lineup. "Completely transforming or transferring to EVs is taking longer than expected. We cannot push so hard and bring only EVs to the market. It was a bold goal from us years ago, but we must adjust and face the reality of differences in our customers - that not every customer is ready to go there," said Manfred Harrer, head of the Genesis & Performance Development Tech Unit at Hyundai Motor. Over a year ago, Hyundai said it would boost hybrid production in the face of disappointing EV sales. This strategy seems to have filtered through to the Genesis luxury marque, too. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
