2024 saw many great performance cars put out to pasture as the creep towards an all EV future gathers steam. Two casualties that hit hard were the Hyundai i20 N and i30 N, cars that established the Korean brand as a force to be reckoned with.

That trailblazing path continued with the Ioniq 5 N, which has been winning praise as one of the most driver-centric EVs on sale today. And now Hyundai has upped the ante with the DK Edition, complete with the seal of approval from non-other than Keiichi Tsuchiya. Set to be sold as an ‘exclusive N performance parts package’, the DK Edition is the Drift King’s first foray into car development, as he travelled to Namyang to work alongside the N divisions R&D engineers.

The package compiles wider, forged 21” alloy wheels saving 10.6kg of unsprung mass. Behind them sits a significant upgrade in braking power, with six-pot duralumin calipers, fitted with 54 percent larger high-friction brake pads. The callipers themselves are finished in a distinctive shade of green to match Tsuchiya-san’s trademark racing overalls.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N DK Edition
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N DK Edition

Hyundai claims the team experimented with several different suspension systems including coilovers, but they couldn’t outperform the existing adaptive dampers. With a desire to lower the car’s centre of gravity, Hyundai worked with H&R to develop a set of lowering springs that would work seamlessly with the existing dampers, dropping the car by 15mm all-round, increasing agility. Tsuchiya claims the car has “The ideal balance of roll and yaw” with “finely controllable weight transfer”.

There is no talk of any additional power for the car - not that the 5 N is lacking in performance with 601bhp. There is however, an increase in downforce thanks to an eyecatching carbon fibre bodykit. Featuring an aggressive front splitter, side skirts, rear wing and diffuser, the additional aero develops an extra 93kgf at 87mph.

It is not known whether Hyundai will offer the DK Edition as a sole package, or as a series of dealer-fit upgrades. Nor is there any word on cost. Interestingly, the launch car is painted white rather than the N division's signature Performance Blue, but the Drift King is donning a set of Performance Blue racing boots. Sadly those boots are probably the closest UK fans are likely to get to the Ioniq 5 N DK Edition - it looks like the only markets the car is destined for are South Korea and Japan.