Hyundai’s first high-performance electric vehicle, the Ioniq 5 N, made a striking appearance at the ‘Gran Turismo World Series 2024’ World Final, showcasing its impressive driving performance. Hyundai announced on the 9th that the Ioniq 5 N was selected for the Time Trial Race qualifying round in the Nations Cup segment of the Gran Turismo World Series 2024, an esports tournament held in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on the 8th (local time).
The Gran Turismo World Series is the global championship competition of the renowned digital racing game ‘Gran Turismo 7’ and is in its seventh edition this year. The Ioniq 5 N made a surprise appearance at the Time Trial Race qualifying round before its official launch in the Gran Turismo 7 racing game in January next year.
The Ioniq 5 N is a symbolic model representing Hyundai’s key electrification strategy, which actively advances flexible electrification. As the first high-performance electric vehicle of Hyundai’s N brand, it incorporates Hyundai’s advanced electrification technologies to push its driving performance to the extreme.
Based on a high-performance all-wheel-drive system, the Ioniq 5 N delivers a maximum output of 478 kW (650 hp) and a peak torque of 770 Nm in combined boost mode from the front and rear motors. It features an 84 kWh high-output battery and a thermal management control system specialized for high-performance electric vehicles.
Hyundai previously unveiled the Ioniq 5 N TA Spec at the ‘2024 Nürburgring 24-Hour Endurance Race’ in collaboration with Polyphony Digital, the developer of Gran Turismo, in May. This vehicle set a new record in the production electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) modified category at the ‘Pikes Peak Hill Climb’ held in Colorado, USA, in July.
Joonwoo Park, head of Hyundai’s N Brand Management Office, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration with Polyphony Digital through the Gran Turismo World Series, stating, “It is exciting to showcase Hyundai’s N brand and vehicles through this partnership. The Ioniq 5 N is a great starting point and catalyst for collaboration between the two companies, and we aim to develop various models for Gran Turismo 7 to allow customers to experience Hyundai N’s high performance in a virtual space.”
Kazunori Yamauchi, producer of the Gran Turismo series and founder of Polyphony Digital, commented, “Hyundai has achieved remarkable results in motorsports this year, including victories in the Nürburgring 24-Hour Endurance Race TCR class, TCR World Tour Driver’s Championship, and consecutive records at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, as well as the WRC Driver’s Championship. We are pleased to release the Ioniq 5 N in Gran Turismo 7 and look forward to continued collaboration with Hyundai in esports.”