Execs play coy but are far from ruling out N-EVs
Hyundai and Rimac already partnering for performance car
Wondering if Hyundai’s growing fleet of N performance models would keep expanding into the brand’s new EVs? A new report says that Hyundai is planning a version of the Ioniq 5 that would add high-performance to the electric model.
“Could you imagine we were not working on it already?” teased Albert Biermann, boss of N, reports Top Gear. Chief Marketing Officer Thomas Schemera was a touch more upfront about the plan, says the report.
“Everybody knows that our electric global modular platform (E-GMP) has a lot of potential and shows a lot of flexibility. One thing is for sure, eco-friendly models are on our priority list – at the top”, Schemera said. WWE never stop thinking about extending our product portfolio and strategically we are moving full speed ahead with eco-friendly offerings. We are moving ahead with our battery electric concept and our fuel cell electric concepts.” So does that mean an Ioniq? “I guess it seems to be realistic,” he said.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a Pony-styled electric hatchback that is already rear-drive as standard and offers 300 hp in top all-wheel drive guise. That leaves plenty of performance for Hyundai N to unlock on the enthusiast side of the new E-GMP architecture underpinning the automaker’s new EVS.
Hyundai is also said to be working with hypercar maker Rimac to build a new top-of-range EV performance car, so it wouldn’t be much of a stretch to seek out some of that company’s assistance on the rest of its EVs as well.
