This 678bhp Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Is Going For Pikes Peak Glory

Things are getting spicy at this year’s Pikes Peak Hill Climb: barely a day after Ford divulged some more details of its F-150 Lightning-based challenger, the four examples of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N that the Korean manufacturer will send up the fearsome 12.4-mile course have been unveiled.

The headline machines are the two that have been built to TA, or Time Attack, spec. Unsurprisingly, they’re the ones with the socking great rear wings and front splitters. The drivetrain is the same as the roadgoing Ioniq 5 N, but software tweaks have seen the power jump from 641 to 678bhp.

In addition to the outrageous aero package, they’ve also been fitted out with motorsport-spec brakes and suspension and Yokohama racing slicks. Furthermore, Hyundai has fitted louder speakers for the 5 N’s synthesised sound, apparently enhancing driver feedback and supplanting the warning sirens normally fitted to electric Pikes Peak racers.

The TA cars will be piloted by Robin Shute, a four-time overall winner and current champion at Pikes Peak, and Dani Sordo, who’s being parachuted in from Hyundai’s World Rally Championship squad.

Joining them are two largely production-spec 5 Ns, differing from showroom models only in some regulation safety kit and the removal of the rear seats. They’ll be driven by Paul Dallenbach, a Pikes Peak veteran with 11 class wins to his name, and Ron Zaras, a former executive of the Hoonigan brand who was “chosen to showcase the story of a motorsport enthusiast preparing for this massive challenge.” Do we smell a Drive To Survive-style docu-series about his preparation for the event?

Both versions of the 5 N are going for new Pikes Peak records, but that comes with a very big, bold asterisk attached: the records in question are in the Electric Production SUV/Crossover and Electric Modified SUV/Crossover classes. Neither of which have existing record times. No pressure, then.

In addition to unveiling the cars, Hyundai has announced deeper collaboration with the Gran Turismo series, which will involve “various sim-racing activities including Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) participation.” Could this be tacit confirmation that the course, for which Gran Turismo has apparently held an exclusive video game licence since 2017, is finally coming to GT7? We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed.