Hyundai Ioniq 6 N could be a Taycan on a budget

The high-performance Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric vehicle (EV) is set to get a leaner, sleeker companion.

What appears to be the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N has been spied testing in Europe, wearing a wild rear wing and forged, black-finish 20-inch wheels behind which sit bright red brake calipers.

The prototype also appears to have a wider track than the regular Ioniq 6.

Given both this prototype and what appears to be a facelifted version of the regular Ioniq 6 – both with heavy camouflage up front – have recently been spied, it’s possible Hyundai is gearing up for a 2025 reveal.

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The Ioniq 5, which shares the same E-GMP dedicated EV underpinnings and first entered production in 2021, just received an update this year that brought minor styling tweaks but more significant changes under the skin.

The Ioniq 6 may not be far behind, as it entered production in 2022.

It’s no secret Hyundai has been testing a high-performance version of its polarising electric ‘streamliner’. It invited media to drive the RN22e in 2022, a powered-up ‘rolling lab’ based on the Ioniq 6.

The production Ioniq 6 N could borrow the dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain from the Ioniq 5 N.

This produces total system outputs of 448kW of power and 740Nm of torque, which are bumped up to 478kW and 770Nm in N Grin Boost mode.

The claimed 0-100km/h time is 3.5 seconds, or 3.4 seconds with N Grin Boost activated, with the Ioniq 5 N reaching a top speed of 260km/h.

The dual-motor powertrain is fed by a 84kWh lithium-ion battery, with claimed WLTP range of 448km.

As the Ioniq 6 has a lower, sleeker body, an N version could improve on that range figure.

The Ioniq 5 N was developed for more than just drag strip thrills, and we’d expect the Ioniq 6 N to share much of its performance software and hardware that’s aimed at improving track performance and driver engagement.

That includes paddle shifters that allow you to change between simulated gears; N Torque Distribution, which allows you to configure the car so 100 per cent of torque is sent to the rear wheels; N Pedal, which is a regenerative braking function for track use; and a drift mode called N Drift Optimiser.

The Ioniq 5 N also features simulated engine and exhaust sounds that can be heard from both inside and outside the vehicle, while its body was stiffened compared to the regular Ioniq 5 and it received a higher steering ratio.

MORE: Everything Hyundai Ioniq 6