The Electric Boogaloo 2: Is the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N the EV We've Been Waiting For?
Image Credit: Hyundai.
I've been waiting for this day since Hyundai released the original Ioniq 6 a couple of years ago. Its bar-of-soap shape was desperately calling for more power and an outrageous body kit. Then Hyundai went wild with the Ioniq 5 N and we all knew the 6 N was just a question of time. Well, that time has finally come.
You probably thought the electric car world was settling into a comfortable, slightly beige, routine of sensible crossovers and silent city cars. Thankfully, Hyundai's N division is here to prove you wrong by kicking down the door, smelling faintly of tire smoke and ozone, and unleashing the Ioniq 6 N. An electric vehicle designed with only one purpose in mind: to make you grin like a squirrel on RedBull.
Image Credit: Hyundai.
Remember its slightly chunkier sibling, the Ioniq 5 N? It was a revelation. Hyundai took a perfectly respectable electric family hauler and turned it into a hooligan that could shred tires and embarrass any sports car. It had fake gearshifts, fake engine noise, and a real, honest-to-goodness drift mode. It was brilliantly bonkers. So, for the follow-up act, have Hyundai toned it down? Made it more sensible? Of course not. Instead, Hyundai doubled down on the madness.
The Ioniq 6 N takes the sleek, "streamliner" silhouette of the standard car and injects it with a giant dose of what I can only describe as pure anabolic steroids. The designers say, "form follows function," which is a polite way of saying they've slapped on a massive front grille, a new splitter, and fender flares that stretch the body by over an inch on each side. Then, just in case you missed the memo that this isn't a grocery-getter, they've bolted a gigantic swan-neck wing to the back. It's gloriously absurd. And perfect.
Image Credit: Hyundai.
Underneath all that visual shouting is the same heart that powered the 5 N. A dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup that delivers a perfectly adequate 601 horsepower. But adequacy is boring. That's why there's a little red button on the steering wheel labeled "N Grin Boost." Press it, and for 10 glorious seconds, you unleash the full fury of 641 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. The result? A claimed 0-62 mph time of 3.2 seconds. Knowing Hyundai, they're probably being modest. I reckon this thing will be quicker.
The battery is the same 84 kWh unit as before, which should get you from 10 to 80 percent charge in about 18 minutes if you can find a charger that's up to the task. Range is estimated at around 290 miles, but honestly, if you're driving this car properly, you'll be measuring your trips in smiles, not miles per charge. Hyundai also tweaked the battery management system, giving you modes like 'Drag' and 'Endurance' to prep the battery for either a single, face-melting launch or a prolonged session of tormenting Porsches on a track day.
Image Credit: Hyundai.
Speaking of track days, Hyundai has clearly been listening to the feedback from the 5 N owners. The 'N e-Shift' system, the simulated eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox that I was so hilariously skeptical about, has been improved. The ambient lighting now tells you when to "shift," and you can use it in any drive mode - even Eco, for those moments when you want to feel like a racing driver while hypermiling. You can even use it with launch control and the drift mode to pull off massive, heroic "fourth-gear" slides. It's a solution to a problem that never existed, and I absolutely love it for that.
The soundtrack has also had an upgrade. The 'N Active Sound+' system now has a new "sound," and they promise better quality for the fake engine noise. You can choose between something that mimics a combustion engine or a futuristic spaceship whine. Or, and this is a revolutionary concept, you can turn it all off and just enjoy the eerie silence of immense speed. Your car, your choice. I know which I'm going for.
Image Credit: Hyundai.
But this electric speedster isn't just a 5 N in a sleeker suit. Hyundai insists the 6 N is sharper, harder, and more focused. The chassis has been re-engineered for less body roll, there's a new strut brace you can see from the trunk, and the suspension geometry is all new.
The 6 N gets fancy "stroke sensing electronically controlled dampers," which is engineer-speak for "it's really clever at keeping the car flat in corners." It rolls on lightweight 20-inch forged wheels wrapped in custom Pirelli P Zero tires, hiding massive brakes that can deploy even more regenerative braking force to help slow you down.
Image Credit: Hyundai.
It's all well and good. Even better - the 6 N exceeded my expectations so far. I was watching the Goodwood reveal, and I felt at peace - Hyundai has delivered on its promises. But then, out of the darkness came something nobody was expecting, something that truly sent a shiver down my spine.
As if the standard Ioniq 6 N wasn't enough, Hyundai casually revealed the Drift Spec 6 N. In a mean, matte gray finish, with wheel arches wider than Rocket Bunny kits from Kei Miura. With wild camber and enough extra steering angle to make boys from Wisefab jealous.
Image Credit: Goodwood Festival of Speed.
This thing just casually came down the Goodwood Hill and covered the whole track in tire smoke so thick, I could taste the rubber just watching the live stream. Praise the gods of sideways action - my prayers have been answered.
Hyundai mentioned at Goodwood that apart from the Drift Spec 6 N, they're also working on a whole catalog of N performance parts. A factory-backed, track-and-drift-focused EV? With official upgrades like bigger wings, wilder suspension, and maybe even more power? This is the stuff we used to do with our gasoline-powered project cars. Hyundai is no longer just building an electric car; they're building an entire culture around it.
Image Credit: Goodwood Festival of Speed.
I don't have a final price yet, but a bit of back-of-the-napkin math suggests it might land somewhere around the $60,000 mark. If that's the case, find me another (electric or not) four-door saloon that can offer this much performance, this much technology, and this much pure fun for the money. Go on, I'll wait.
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 N is proof that the electric future doesn't have to be silent and soulless. It can be loud, proud, and brilliantly ridiculous. If the Drift Spec comes in anywhere around the $70,000, it'll be an "affordable," competition-ready out-of-the box tire slayer that many people will be able to afford on finance. The world has gone mad and my garage is already feeling a little too small.
