Electric cars have great acceleration, but they can seem dull to drive. Hyundai didn't get that memo when creating the 640-horsepower Ioniq 5 N. They tout that the Ioniq 5 N is truly fun and a "corner rascal".  Piloting the Ioniq 5 N at the Nürburgring was Sport Auto's test driver, Christian Gebhardt. 

Gebhardt has driven both the Ioniq 5 N and last-generation BMW M2 CS. The Ioniq 5 N completed a time of 7 minutes and 49.59 seconds, only 2.6 seconds slower than the BMW. Back in 2020, Gebhardt completed a time of the Nordschleife in 7 minutes and 42.99 seconds. Hyundai used Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires, while the last-generation M2 CS had Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s. With all that power, the Ioniq 5 N hit speeds up to 163 mph on the straights.

Comparing a sports car with an electric crossover doesn't happen often but comparing the two times is interesting. There is a larger gap between the Ioniq 5 N and the current M2, with a time of 7 minutes and 38.17 seconds last year. In the next few years, there will be a quicker M2 CS that will be quicker around the 'Ring.

Since Hyundai also has the Ioniq 6, there's a chance they will create an Ioniq 6 N. Hyundai's RN22e concept car looks to be a preview of a production model. This could be quite the quick electric sedan with a lower center of gravity and better aerodynamics. BMW's M division is working on a high-performance M3-like sedan. This should arrive in the latter half of the decade with an X3-sized crossover.
 

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This proves that a proper handling EV can be made, for the right amount of $$$ of course.

That's a good time for a crossover but some gas crossovers are faster, and the Model S Plaid and Taycn are like in the 7:20s I think.    But for a crossover like vehicle 7:49 is a strong time.

I expect Hyundai to continue to lead in performance EVs as they want to lead in the markets they sell in and for ending 2023, Hyundai became #2 in North America. GM and Ford are going to have a hard time catching up as they pause their EV efforts. Tesla is going to also have a hard time holding off Hyundai as they have their Trilogy to spread costs out over and to drive EV development and options with the Hyundai/Kia/Genesis trilogy of EVs. 

I see Hyundai doing well in 2024.

On 1/21/2024 at 3:20 PM, smk4565 said:

That's a good time for a crossover but some gas crossovers are faster, and the Model S Plaid and Taycn are like in the 7:20s I think.    But for a crossover like vehicle 7:49 is a strong time.

The Ioniq 5 is a hatchback no matter what Hyundai got it classified as by the EPA.  If the Ioniq 5 is a crossover, then so is the GTI.