Hyundai Motor Company’s IONIQ 5 N has set a new standard in electric vehicle (EV) performance, achieving the fastest lap time by an EV at the ‘Attack Tsukuba 2025’ motorsport event in Japan on 15 February. Held at the Tsukuba Circuit in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, the track is known for its compact and challenging layout. Hyundai N entered the event with the IONIQ 5 N TA (Time Attack) Spec, driven by Japanese professional driver, Nobuteru Taniguchi.

The IONIQ 5 N TA Spec is a motorsport variant of the award-winning IONIQ 5 N. It took victory at the 2024 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) in the modified production electric SUV category, setting a new record in the process.

The vehicle is designed to showcase the strengths of the production-spec IONIQ 5 N without significant modifications. The IONIQ 5 N TA Spec retains the standard car’s high-performance power electronics (PE) system. Through software tuning, the TA Spec’s maximum output has been boosted to 687 PS, with the rear motor’s power increased by 37 PS compared with the standard IONIQ 5 N.

Additional upgrades include N Active Sound+ with modified speakers (more han120 dB), new shock absorbers, motorsport-grade brakes, 18-inch Yokohama ADVAN 005 slick tires, a high-downforce aerodynamic package, a Recaro Pro Racer SPA Hans seat, a Sabelt six-point Hans safety harness, a PPIHC-specification roll cage, and an EV fire suppression system.

With a lap time of 57.446 seconds, the IONIQ 5 N TA Spec is the fastest EV to lap the Tsukuba Circuit. This result was almost two seconds faster than the nearest EV competitor, despite the IONIQ 5 N TA Spec using mostly production components in critical systems such as its motors, battery and control electronics.

Hyundai Mobility Japan also showcased the recently revealed IONIQ 5 N DK Edition, a show vehicle with a special high-performance parts package. Hyundai N created the package in collaboration with Autobacs Seven, a leading Japanese automotive parts and service company, and Keiichi Tsuchiya, the Japanese race car driver also known as ‘Drift King’ —the package’s namesake.

Hyundai N intends to bring the DK Edition N Performance Parts package to market, providing IONIQ 5 N customers with enhanced road and track performance.