Hyundai Motor Introduces IONIQ 5 N eN1 Cup Car, Ushering in a New Era for Electric Vehicle Racing
On March 31, 2024, Hyundai Motor Company proudly revealed the IONIQ 5 N eN1 Cup car during the official practice session for teams entering the Hyundai N Festival motorsports event. This pioneering electric race car, built on the award-winning IONIQ 5 N high-performance electric vehicle (EV), marks the dawn of a new sustainable racing era.
Till Wartenberg, Vice President and Head of N Brand & Motorsport, expressed immense pride in the launch of the IONIQ 5 N eN1 Cup car, highlighting Hyundai’s dedication to eco-friendly racing. The car showcases Hyundai’s advanced technology and enthusiasm for expanding the capabilities of EVs on the race track.
The race car shares its power electronics (PE) system with the consumer model IONIQ 5 N, featuring a more potent powertrain and greater battery capacity than the standard IONIQ 5. As the N brand’s inaugural high-performance EV, the IONIQ 5 N delivers thrilling acceleration and substantial power output up to 650 PS, tailored for rigorous track driving. It incorporates Hyundai Motor’s latest Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), efficient battery cooling, and powerful regenerative braking.
Set to compete in the elite N1 class like the current Avante (Elantra) N1 class vehicles, the IONIQ 5 N eN1 Cup car is engineered for professional racers, boasting improved track performance with slick tires. The introduction of the new eN1 class this year will allow teams to choose from various tire brands, removing the limitation to a single provider.
Additionally, the vehicle features a newly designed body kit for enhanced handling and aerodynamics, including over-fenders, widened wheel paths, front lips, and rear wings that increase downforce. Weight reduction was achieved by removing non-essential parts, and applying forged wheels, an FRP hood, and polycarbonate windows. The car promises an immersive auditory experience with the NGB overboost, virtual shift (N e-Shift), and the customizable NAS+ (N Active Sound) system, allowing teams to create distinct sounds.
To ensure racer safety, the IONIQ 5 N eN1 Cup car is fitted with vital safety features, including roll cages, racing seats, and seat belts, along with specialized fire extinguishers for electric fires and asphyxiation, and a relocated charging port, to provide the utmost safety in electric vehicle racing.
