Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Showcases Fake Engine Sound in New Teaser Video

In a world where many folks are still in doubt of EV technologies, many EV automakers are now trying so hard to make their all-electric fleets look, behave, and even drive like a normal ICE. Beyond the ICE-oriented design and body styles, one automaker has taken things to the next level in convincing these hard-headed folks in adopting and embracing electromobility.

Yes, we’re talking about the famed South Korean marque Hyundai, who’ve ramped up their electromobility adoption to the max in meeting the growing demands. In an attempt to lure these petrolheads into trying out EVs, Hyundai has sent their beloved EV model, the Ioniq 5, to a performance ‘boot camp’ at the marque’s performance arm, the Hyundai N.

We’d agree that an EV with a performance arm badge is nothing new in today’s automotive industry. But what sets the soon-to-be-launched Hyundai Ioniq 5 N apart from the rest, is the fact that it pops and crackles like any ICE sportscar would.

Previewed here in the latest video teaser is the camouflage-draped Hyundai Ioniq 5 N roaring with its fake engine sound around the streets of Seoul as well as Hyundai’s R&D centre in Namyang. Though it sounded funny at first, folks at Hyundai N division have done their part in making the EV’s fake sound somewhat believable, without overkilling it.

But what’s more interesting is the fact that the Ioniq 5 N also projects the downshifting noise. Hyundai and several other EV marques have been toying around with the idea of fitting EVs with a manual-like transmission, to give it a more ‘driver’s car’ feel. But we could be entirely wrong here, as this downshifting noise might just be yet another gizmo magic Hyundai engineers have put on. 

Should you find the car’s noise too ‘fake’ for your liking, Hyundai said future over-the-air (OTA) updates will allow you to upload your own car noises – theoretically meaning that you can make your Ioniq 5 N EV sound like a roaring V12 supercar!

Beyond the fake noises, said teaser video also showcased the Ioniq 5 N drifting and hooning around the test track corners, thanks to the car’s ‘drift mode’. This is enabled by the Ioniq 5 N’s dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) setup rated at roughly 600 HP – a rather significant jump over the standard Ioniq 5.

Elsewhere, the Ioniq 5 N also features Hyundai’s latest battery tech with improved energy density, allowing more juice to be stored in the same footprint as the standard Ioniq 5.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is set to make its full-on public debut and deliveries later this year. As for the pricing, expect a slightly more premium one than the base model’s $50,000 (RM220,000 approx.) price range.