Hyundai’s N performance arm, known for its compelling models like the original i30 N, has now ventured into the realm of sporty EVs with the debut of the new Ioniq 5 N. However, the brand’s executive technical advisor, Albert Biermann, revealed that creating a more affordable EV is a top priority for N, though it poses significant challenges.
During the Australian launch of the Ioniq 5 N, Biermann expressed N’s interest in a more affordable EV, stating, “of course,” N would be interested in such a model. However, he noted the current reliance on existing platforms, stating that N is not yet at the stage where it can develop its own bespoke models with unique underpinnings.
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“We are intensely looking, what do we have in the pocket and how do we make the condition out of what we have? This process is going on intensely for quite some time because for me, the most important thing is to come up with this smaller, more affordable [EV] N car,” said Biermann.
He emphasized the need for a smaller, more affordable EV from N, adding, “This is job number 1 I think for N at this point as we look forward into the future.”
The Ioniq 5 N, like other electric vehicles from the Hyundai group, is based on the E-GMP platform and uses motors that are approximately 95% identical to those of lesser variants.
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Hyundai’s next generation of electric vehicles will utilize the Integrated Modular Architecture (IMA), a platform that the company claims represents a significant advancement over the E-GMP platform. The IMA is designed to accommodate nearly all vehicle classes and will be complemented with advanced new Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NCM) and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries.
