Hyundai's IONIQ 5 N eN1 Cup Car Debuts: Revolutionizing Electric Race Cars

© Hyundai

Hyundai's IONIQ 5 N eN1 Cup Car electrifies sustainable racing at the Hyundai N Festival, showcasing the future of eco-friendly motorsports with its powerful performance and innovative technology.

Hyundai Motor Company recently showcased the IONIQ 5 N eN1 Cup car, a highlight of the Hyundai N Festival’s motorsports event’s official practice round. This electric racing car, derived from the high-performance IONIQ 5 N EV, heralds a new era in eco-friendly racing. Sharing the power electronics system with the production model, this race car boasts an enhanced powertrain and a larger battery, differentiating it from the standard IONIQ 5. The IONIQ 5 N, as the N brand’s inaugural high-performance EV, offers potent acceleration, substantial power output up to 641 hp, and is designed for the rigors of circuit racing. It benefits from Hyundai’s Electric Global Modular Platform, a robust battery thermal management system, and an efficient regenerative braking system.

Set to compete in the newly introduced eN1 class, which encourages competition with diverse tire products from different manufacturers, the IONIQ 5 N eN1 Cup car is outfitted for enhanced circuit performance, including slick tires for professional racing. Its redesigned body kit features low and wide over-fenders, broader wheel trajectories, and aerodynamic improvements like front lips and rear wings to increase downforce and handling. Weight reduction measures, such as the removal of non-essential components and the use of forged wheels and lighter materials for the hood and windows, have also been implemented.

Safety is paramount in the design of the IONIQ 5 N eN1 Cup car, incorporating roll cages, racing seats and belts, and specialized fire extinguishers for electric fires, among other features, to ensure the highest safety standards in EV racing.

The Hyundai N Festival, which has evolved into Korea’s largest one-make race series, will feature EV racing for the first time this season. This initiative marks a significant step in Hyundai’s commitment to sustainable racing and offers a learning and development opportunity for race teams, drivers, and officials in the emerging EV racing scene. The festival is set to begin at Inje Speedium, introducing various competition formats to explore and refine EV racing methods.

This introduction of electric vehicles into the Hyundai N Festival’s competitive lineup not only demonstrates Hyundai’s innovative approach to motorsport but also aligns with its broader commitment to sustainability and the electrification of its vehicle range.

Source: Hyundai