When it comes to the world of international hill climbs, none has as much prestige and heritage as the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. Located in the Colorado Rockies, the legendary hill climb has been the ultimate test for manufacturers across the world for what will be 108 years in 2024. This year, another electrified record will be set by none other than Hyundai.
Hyundai’s efforts at Pikes Peak started back in 1992, and will return in 2024 with the all-new Ioniq 5 N. Already setting new standards across the board on the streets, the latest entry into Hyundai’s N Performance division will set the benchmark in the electric crossover SUV segment for everyone else to chase.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Hyundai’s manufacturer website and other authoritative sources, including Car and Driver.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Pricing And What You Get For The Money
Here’s what you can expect from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, the most expensive car in the brand’s history.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Is Practically Record Read
As soon as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N was announced, the claimed performance capabilities of the electric crossover SUV instantly set the stage for something truly special for us to get behind the wheel of. Previous N Performance models also set new standards for the respective classes, but the Ioniq 5 N has become the most powerful Hyundai ever produced.
Due to the power from its dual electric motors, the Ioniq 5 N is more than capable of handling the twists and turns of the iconic Pikes Peak Hill Climb. While many vehicles require pretty significant changes, the crossover SUV will essentially remain stock. A key motivator for Hyundai sending the Ioniq 5 N up the mountain is to show customers what to expect from its new SUV.
The Changes Needed To Tackle Pikes Peak
Despite not receiving any significant upgrades, Hyundai will have to make small changes to comply with the safety regulations for the event. All this includes, however, is the removal of the the rear seats to make room for a roll cage and a fire suppression system. The standard driver’s seat will also be replaced by a Recaro Pro Racer SPA Hans seat, with Sabelt six-point HANS compatible seatbelts.
Already Fitted With The Latest Performance-Enhancing Technology
When storming up Pikes Peak, having all the equipment at the wheel to extract the most performance is essential. This is a big reason why many other cars to take part in hill climbs require updates, but the Ioniq 5 N comes packed with cutting-edge performance-boosting technology as standard that you’ll only get in an electric car.
In addition to its enhanced body and chassis compared to the base Ioniq 5, the N Performance version comes with N Torque Distribution, which provides fully variable front and rear torque distribution that can be adjusted to 11 levels. The electronically controlled suspension comes with three different modes; it’s safe to say it’ll be in sport mode when climbing the famed mountain.
Further technology for the Ioniq 5 N includes the N Race mode, which is designed to optimize the endurance of the electric motors to maximize the overall track times. This system works hand-in-hand with N Battery Conditioning, which optimizes the battery cells to the most power-efficient temperature. For Pikes Peak, Track mode will be the most beneficial as it provides an increase in power over a longer period of time.
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Pikes Peak Performance In A Production Vehicle
Besides the extensive performance-enhancing technology included with the Ioniq 5 N, the base performance it produces makes it more than capable of setting a seriously impressive benchmark for future manufacturers to try and beat. “We are returning to the mountain stronger than we have left it, with a class-leading electric SUV in the form of IONIQ 5 N,” says the Head of N Brand and Motorsport.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Performance Specifications
|
Layout |
84 kWh Lithium-Ion Battery With Dual-Electric Motor |
|
Transmission |
Single-speed Automatic |
|
Horsepower |
641 HP |
|
Torque |
546 LB-FT |
|
Electric Range |
278 Miles |
|
0-60 MPH |
3.1 Seconds |
|
Top Speed |
162 MPH |
(Data was collected form Hyundai)
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N’s ability to produce a whopping 641 horsepower and 546 pound-feet of torque instantly makes it a formidable competitor for this year’s event. While electric cars have a reputation for their blistering acceleration, which the Ioniq 5 N upholds with a 0 to 60 miles per hour time of just 3.1 seconds, the Hyundai manages to reach a top speed of 162 miles per hour. The Pikes Peak Hill Climb features a total of 156 turns, but with the electronic slip differential, the Ioniq 5 N seems like the perfect car for Hyundai to return to the mountain in.
The Two Modified Ioniq 5 Ns Taking Part In the Climb
Alongside the two standard versions of the Ioniq 5 N being sent up Pikes Peak, Hynudai will also enter two modified examples of the crossover SUV into the event. While the details for these two models have yet to be announced, we do know that they’ll be driven by Dani Sordo, a Spanish World Rally Championship driver for Hyundai Motorsport, and Robin Shute, a four-time overall winner and King of the Mountain title holder at Pikes Peak.
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The Current Pikes Peak Record Holder
In recent years, the levels of performance that the Pikes Peak entries have reached have been nothing sort of astonishing. Back in 2018, the record time for the hill climb was set by Romain Dumas behind the wheel of the all-electric Volkswagen I.D.R, setting at the time of 07:57.148. Prior to the I.D.R’s time, the record was held by Sebastien Loeb in a Peugeot 208 T16 with a time of 8:13.878.
The Volkswagen did have the aerodynamic advantage over the Peugeot, but the benefits that electrification brought to the I.D.R cannot be ignored. Featuring a dual-motor setup to give it an all-wheel drive, the Volkswagen I.D.R produces a total of 671 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. While the Ioniq 5 N shares similar performance specs, a time close to the Volkswagen is unsurprisingly off the cards, but it could beat the current SUV record.
Toppling The Mighty BMW XM Label Red
Currently, the Pikes Peak record time for an SUV is held by the BMW XM Label Red, which ran the event in 2023. As the Ioniq 5 N will be setting an all-new record for an electric SUV, the XM Label Red is the most closely related record time that the Hyundai can beat. The XM Label Red is a hybrid SUV meaning that its combustion engine gives it some solid power, but doesn’t benefit from the instant power that pure EVs provide.
The BMW XM Label Red boasts some incredible performance specs, producing 738 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. Despite having almost 100 horsepower over the Ioniq 5 N, it’s slower to 60 miles per hour at 3.7 seconds. Weight is, of course, a massive element in extracting the most performance, and the Ioniq 5 N weighs over half a ton less than the XM Label Red.
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A New Race-Modified Ioniq 5 N Is In The Works
Looking elsewhere at Hyundai’s motorsport ventures with the Ioniq 5 N, the South Korean brand recently unveiled the Ioniq 5 N eN1 Cup Car, which takes the shell of the base Ioniq 5 N to the next level. The car will compete in the all-new eN1 racing class, ushering in a new age of motorsport for electric power.
In comparison to the base Ioniq 5 N, the eN1 version comes with all the upgrades needed to bring it up to motorsport spec. This includes a larger widebody kit equipped with a front lip and permanent rear wing, significantly improving downforce. In terms of power, the Ioniq 5 N eN1 will boast the same specs as the road-going version, producing 641 horsepower and 541 pound-feet of torque. The eN1 will expectedly lose weight, coming in at an estimated 4,350 pounds compared to the Ioniq 5 N’s 4,900 pounds.
The NPX1 Concept
Yet another version of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N that was recently unveiled is the NPX1 concept, debuting at the Tokyo Auto Salon. Standing for N Performance eXperimental 1, this version of the Ioniq 5 N features an array of modifications to also take the performance of the crossover SUV to the new territory.
Carbon Fiber is at the heart of this new design, with the NPX1 featuring a huge front splitter, equally bold side skirts, and a rear diffuser. The NPX1 is also fitted with a rear wing similar to that on the eN1 cup car, albeit not quite as big. Finished in matte black, the NPX1 concept is yet another example of where Hyundai plans to take its first ever N Performance electric car after it sets a new record at this year’s Pikes Peak Hill Climb.
