The legendary Tsukuba Circuit in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan is known for its compact and challenging layout. This provides the perfect venue for participants to showcase the capabilities of their vehicles. Hyundai N entered with the Ioniq 5 N TA (Time Attack) Spec driven by renowned Japanese professional driver, Nobuteru Taniguchi.

Taniguchi, who held the previous EV lap record praised the Ioniq 5 N TA for its handling and stopping power. He said, “Despite the power, the control is outstanding, with great cornering and smooth, stable corner-exit. I could push the car to the limit with real confidence.”

The Ioniq 5 N TA Spec is a motorsport variant of the Ioniq 5 N. It’s no stranger to competition having taken victory at the 2024 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) in the modified production electric SUV category, setting a new record in the process.

The vehicle is designed to showcase the strengths of the production-spec Ioniq 5 N without significant modifications. The Ioniq 5 N TA Spec retains the standard car’s high-performance power electronics (PE) system. Through software tuning, the TA Spec’s maximum output has been boosted to 687 horsepower, with the rear motor’s power increased by 37 horsepower compared with the standard model.

Additional upgrades include N Active Sound+ with modified speakers (over 120 dB), new shock absorbers, motorsport-grade brakes, 18-inch Yokohama Advan 005 slick tires, a high-downforce aerodynamic package, a Recaro Pro Racer SPA Hans seat, a Sabelt six-point HANS safety harness, a PPIHC-specification roll cage, and an EV fire suppression system.

With a lap time of 57.446 seconds, the Ioniq 5 N TA Spec is the fastest EV ever to lap the Tsukuba Circuit. This result was almost two seconds faster than the nearest EV competitor, despite it using mostly production components in critical systems such as its motors, battery, and control electronics.

Hyundai Japan also showcased the recently revealed Ioniq 5 N DK Edition, a show vehicle with a special high-performance parts package. Hyundai N created the package in collaboration with Autobacs Seven, a leading Japanese automotive parts and service company, and Keiichi Tsuchiya, the legendary Japanese race car driver also known as ‘Drift King’ – the package’s namesake.

Hyundai N intends to bring the DK Edition N Performance Parts package to market, providing Ioniq 5 N customers with enhanced road and track performance.