The IONIQ 5 N currently holds the world’s fastest production e-SUV title up this famous hill climb event.
Hyundai has recently sent a couple of its IONIQ 5 N models to take part in the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) on this past June 23rd, and has since come back with not one, but two records in the Electric Modified and Electric Production SUV/Crossover categories.
The South Korean automaker competed in this year’s PPIHC with two IONIQ 5 N TA (Time Attack) Specs and one production IONIQ 5 N. All three models conquered the legendary 20 km uphill course, facing 156 turns and an ascent of over 1,438 meters to the summit of Pikes Peak.
Winning the exhibition class and setting the Electric Modified record was the IONIQ 5 N TA Spec driven by Hyundai World Rally driver Dani Sordo, with a time of 09:30.852. The second TA Spec e-crossover meanwhile was driven by racing driver Randy Pobst, who finished the climb in 09:55.551.
Ron Zaras, a PPIHC rookie and automotive media personality, was in turn behind the wheel of the production IONIQ 5 N as it clinched the record in the production e-SUV category with a time of 10:49.267. The overall record for production SUVs still nevertheless belongs to the Lamborghini Urus Performante, which set a time of 10:32.064 back in 2022.
Now delving into a little bit more detail regarding the TA Spec of this IONIQ 5 N here, its wild aero package has been paired with new shock absorbers, motorsport-spec brakes and slick tires. Hyundai has however highlighted that it has only performed minor software tuning to increase the maximum output of the twin motors in this hot e-SUV, coming from its desire to ‘highlight the production-spec IONIQ 5 N’s strengths without significant modifications’.
“We are absolutely thrilled to set a new record at Pikes Peak and our performance overall,” said Till Wartenberg, Vice President and Head of N Brand and Motorsport at Hyundai Motor Company. “Going forward, we plan to continue leveraging exciting motorsports activities such as Pikes Peak to showcase the superior performance of our mass-produced vehicles and continue to develop technology that not only meets customer needs but exceeds their expectations.”
“This year’s Pikes Peak result is a culmination of a dream dreamt by so many people behind the scenes at Hyundai N”, said Joon Park, Vice President and Head of N Brand Management Group. “We put all our best minds together to create a type of high-performance EV that didn’t exist before, and today we confirm that this technology can be competitive even in the toughest hill climb race in the world.”
Incidentally, Hyundai actually first competed in the PPIHC all the way back in 1992. Rod Millen won the 2-Wheel Drive Showroom Stock division with a time of 13:21.17, driving a Hyundai Scoupe. Another significant moment in Hyundai’s Pikes Peak history was in 2012 when a Hyundai Genesis Coupe, driven by Rhys Millen, set a course record of 9:46.164.
