Legendary drifter Keiichi Tsuchiya, known as the “Drift King,” will be taking the wheel of the highly anticipated Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric vehicle at the 2023 World Time Attack Challenge in Australia.
Tsuchiya, famous for bringing drifting techniques into professional racing, will demonstrate the performance capabilities of Hyundai’s first N-badged electric vehicle with a series of demo laps at Sydney Motorsport Park in September. While the Ioniq 5 N isn’t available at your local
Hyundai dealer just yet, this is an exciting moment for high-performance vehicle enthusiasts.
Hyundai Aims to Prove EVs Can Be Exciting
The Ioniq 5 N represents Hyundai’s goal of creating truly fun and engaging electric performance cars. With 641 horsepower sent to all four wheels and features like a drift mode, the Ioniq 5 N aims to capture the thrill of performance that enthusiasts expect.
Tsuchiya’s drifting expertise makes him the perfect choice to showcase what the Ioniq 5 N can do. His sideways driving style will test the EV’s instant torque and advanced traction systems. Big clouds of tire smoke are sure to ensue when Tsuchiya kicks the back end out.
Tsuchiya’s Legendary Drifting Career
Nicknamed the “Drift King” for bringing drifting into motorsports, Tsuchiya has an extensive resume in touring cars, Le Mans, and even served as a consultant on The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
Along with co-founding the D1 Grand Prix drift series, Tsuchiya helped popularize drifting worldwide. While he’s best known for drifting his Toyota AE86, Tsuchiya always aims to push a car to its handling limits, which he’ll surely do in Hyundai’s new performance EV.
Hyundai is Pushing EVs in a New Direction
Hyundai is thinking outside the box with the Ioniq 5 N, pursuing fun and driver engagement as goals for an electric vehicle. Beyond straight-line speed, the Ioniq 5 N aims to capture the excitement enthusiasts expect.
The Ioniq 5 was Car and Driver’s EV of the year for 2022, which translated to impressive sales at every Hyundai dealer worldwide. There’s no doubt that the high-performance N version will raise the bar for electric vehicles. The dual-motor, all-wheel-drive electric powertrain creates
601 horsepower. Thanks to the new N Grin Boost feature, this beast can send out 641 horsepower in a short time.
The dedicated drift mode is what attracted Tsuchiya to this new model. In addition, drivers can enjoy four different drive modes (Eco, Norma, Sport, and N) that adjust the steering weight, damping, and throttle sensitivity.
With the legendary Drift King behind the wheel, Hyundai is out to prove EVs can be just as exciting as traditional performance cars, maybe even more so. Tsuchiya’s demo laps will showcase the Ioniq 5 N’s potential when driven hard by someone who knows how to get the
most out of a car.
If you want to learn more about the Ioniq 5 N, stop by your favorite Hyundai dealer. This is one electric vehicle you do not want to miss.
This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning a commission is given should you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no cost to you. All products shown are researched and tested to give an accurate review for you.