Key Takeaways
- Ioniq 6 N spied for the first time.
- Expected to borrow powertrain from Ioniq 5 N.
- Sedan body style should contribute to enhanced performance over Ioniq 5 N.
Nearly two years ago, Hyundai presented the RN22e concept as a preview of what to expect if the Ioniq 6 ever got a high-performance variant like its Ioniq 5 sibling. It was never officially confirmed that the Ioniq 6 N would happen, but it was practically an open secret, one that has now been effectively confirmed by the first batch of spy shots that have been captured.
The regular Ioniq 6 isn’t the sort to create instant attraction, but with more aggressive styling cues, it may just be coming into its own. New bumpers, wheels, and brakes can be spotted, but this is still far from the finished product.
Wider Bodywork And More Aero To Come
Those trimmings around each wheel arch indicate that the Ioniq 6 N will have a wider stance. Filling those arches are bigger, sportier wheels shod in Pirelli P Zero rubber. Behind these are the distinctly orange calipers, which are expected to be borrowed from the Ioniq 5 N, which wears 15.75-inch discs with four-piston calipers in front and single-piston calipers biting on 14.2-inch discs.
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The Ioniq 6 N is also expected to borrow its powertrain from the Ioniq 5 N, but if it gets the aggressive looks of the RN22e concept, perhaps more performance will be unlocked from the 5 N’s dual-motor setup. That produces 641 horsepower, and we don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect a little more.
Ioniq 6 N Will Be Better Than Ioniq 5 N
Although many of the components will be the same, the Ioniq 6 N is expected to offer handling improvements at the very least. With a lower center of gravity than the Ioniq 5 SUV, the all-electric sedan should be even more thrilling to drive. Like its crossover relation, we can expect drift modes, simulated shifts, and a bunch more enthusiast-focused features. By the time the Ioniq 6 N arrives, the Ioniq 5 N production car and racecar will have taken on Pikes Peak, and lessons learned there will surely be applied to the new arrival. As for a reveal, nothing has been intimated yet, but we expect a debut next year as a 2026 model.