During Hyundai’s N Day, the 276-hp Kona N wasn’t the only newsworthy bit. The young performance sub-brand has revealed that it has started work on electrified performance models. Battery-electric and fuel cell powertrains are already being developed for use in hotter vehicles. Additionally, the RM20e, the latest iteration of Hyundai’s “rolling laboratory,” is already evaluating potent solutions for the sole purpose of driving fun.
The E-GMP platform, which is dedicated to battery-electric vehicles, has a lot of potential, according to Thomas Schemera, executive vice president and head of the customer experience division at Hyundai. However, as Schemera mentions the date of the first E-GMP-based N vehicle, the YouTube video cuts off, preventing us from finding out the release date.
If we’re to guess which vehicle will get an N variant, it’ll be the Ioniq 5 and the upcoming Ioniq 6. The Ioniq 5 is a no-brainer because its sibling, the Kia EV6, already has a 577-hp GT variant, and it’s likely that the third vehicle in the trifecta, the upcoming Genesis GV60, will also inherit that same high-output dual-motor configuration. Should an N version of the Ioniq 5 come to fruition, it’ll get extensive suspension and chassis upgrades, and stickier tires to match the powerful dual-motor setup.
Being a sedan, the upcoming Ioniq 6 is a logical choice too. With the body style playing second fiddle to crossovers, automakers must make a lot of effort to make them stand out, and adding a performance model is one way to do that. Furthermore, an all-electric performance sedan would have a better blend of range and capability, thanks to its lower center of gravity and more aerodynamic shape.
