When Hyundai announced it was killing off its acclaimed N division hot hatches in the UK in favour of an electric future, it was met with jeers. Now however, an announcement of a new performance EV from the Korean manufacturer is met with cheers. While the Ioniq 5 N steals all the headlines, patiently waiting its turn has been the recently facelifted Ioniq 6 saloon. Adopting the same 641bhp drivetrain as the SUV, the N is set to give the forthcoming electric BMW M3 something to think about.

The electric streamliner gains its long-awaited high-performance variant. Based on the recently facelifted Ioniq 6 saloon, the N model features bespoke suspension and drivetrain hardware to form Hyundai’s second fully-electric performance model. Drive comes from two electric motors, delivering 223bhp at the front, and 378bhp at the rear. The combined output is usually 601bhp, but activating launch control raises this to 641bhp, and delivers maximum torque of 568lb-ft (770Nm). 0-62mph takes as little as 3.2 seconds, and the top speed is limited to 160mph.

Strong straight-line performance is to be expected from a powerful EV such as the Ioniq 6 N, but the car is designed to revel in corners too. Adaptive dampers are part of the completely new suspension setup, and the car features enlarged brakes with 400mm discs at the front, and 360mm discs at the rear. These are gripped by four-piston, and single-piston callipers respectively, and contribute to the maximum 0.6G braking force when required. New 20” wheels are found at each corner, with specially-developed Pirelli P Zero tyres shrouding them.

The mechanical grip is complimented by the downforce-enhancing body kit, complete with a high-level wing above the ducktail spoiler on the bootlid. New air-shaping elements are found on the front and rear bumpers, and on the side skirts. Red accents - a Hyundai N staple - underscore the black lower bodywork, and feature on the brake callipers. 

Two sets of four LED lights feature on the boot lid, which spell out the letter H in Morse code. Inside, the 6 N gains new two-piece bucket seats, double-blue line stitching on the seatbelts, and a new steering wheel with multi-purpose paddles.

As well as adjusting the car’s energy recovery intensity, the paddles can shift through a simulated close-ratio gearbox using Hyundai’s e-Shift tech. This completely alters the power delivery, mimicking the characteristics of a combustion engine and introducing an 8,500rpm “red line” on the driver’s display. The ambient lighting changes colour and intensity to encourage shifting at the right moment, and three driving sounds can be selected. We’ve already tried the e-Shift system in the new Kia EV6 GT, and it works a treat.

Further drivetrain customisation and interaction can be found with the N Torque Distribution menu that allows for 11-stage adjustability of the torque split between the front and rear motors. Another menu shows the N Drift Optimizer, which sets the parameters for starting and maintaining power slides, and burning through the bespoke Pirelli rubber.

When maximum performance is desired, N Grin Boost can be activated to unleash the full 641bhp and 568lb-ft of torque for up to ten seconds at a time. Hyundai foresees a lot of owners taking their car to track days, and the 6 N offers three driving modes to suit: Drag, Sprint, and Endurance. Each one alters the performance output, but also the cooling programme for the 84kWh capacity battery, counteracting the immense heat that large power demands provide and extending track time.

Pricing, maximum range, motorsport-inspired exterior and interior accessories, and specifications will be announced when the model goes on sale later this year, but we expect it to be a similar proposition to its crossover stablemate - the Ioniq 5 N. Production begins in Korea in September, and UK deliveries are expected to commence in early 2026.