- Hyundai has unveiled a extra track-focused model of the Ioniq 5 N.
- It options intensive modifications and was developed with enter from Keiichi Tsuchiya, who guarantees it is “unbelievable” to drive.
- To date, this particular version has solely been confirmed for the Japanese and South Korean markets.
Keiichi Tsuchiya is a legendary Japanese race automotive driver and the person who introduced drifting into the mainstream. Nevertheless, though the Drift King’s profession stretches again a long time, he’s a star not solely in his native Japan however around the globe, and he has collaborated with automakers, however he’s by no means truly had a automotive named after him.
You’ll suppose that when that ultimately occurred, it will be a Japanese automaker that honored him with a particular version mannequin. That’s not the case, although, as a result of the primary such particular version truly comes from South Korea.
Hyundai has unveiled the Ioniq 5 N DK Version, the place DK stands for “Drift King.” It’s greater than only a advertising and marketing train, as a result of he took half within the mannequin’s improvement, and the modifications it options embrace his enter. The Ioniq 5 N DK Version doesn’t get any extra energy—not that it wanted it—however the modifications ought to make an already enjoyable and succesful EV even higher.
The very first thing you discover is the bespoke carbon fiber exterior equipment, which features a entrance splitter, facet skirts, a rear diffuser and a considerable roof-mounted rear spoiler that produces over 200 kilos of downforce at 87 mph (140 km/h). It additionally options “DK Version” stickers on the C-pillars.
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Hyundai
Finishing the outside look are particular 21-inch solid wheels that even have wider tires than the common Ioniq 5 N, which is an attention-grabbing alternative in a automobile designed to interrupt the rear tires free and maintain lengthy slides. The wheels save about 5 kilos of unsprung mass per nook and assist enhance dealing with.
The brakes have additionally been upgraded, and the entrance options beefy six-piston calipers. They’re painted inexperienced to go together with parts of the carbon physique equipment, which characteristic the identical coloration. The hue was doubtless chosen because it’s the colour of Tsuchiya’s iconic inexperienced racing go well with, and it’s a refreshing change from the crimson that producers normally use to represent additional efficiency.
This is what Tsuchiya thought in regards to the Ioniq 5 N when he drove it round a observe in 2024.
The automotive additionally sits decrease than the usual Ioniq 5 N due to new H&R springs, which drop the entrance and rear by 15 millimeters and make the automotive higher by the corners. Tsuchiya says these adjustments make for an “unbelievable” drive, and realizing how good the common mannequin is in addition to the Drift King’s observe file, we consider him.
There may be one slight downside, although. The Ioniq 5 N DK Version will solely be offered in South Korea and Japan, with no present plans to promote it elsewhere. You’ll be able to see it within the steel on the Tokyo Auto Salon beginning immediately, and Hyundai launched the primary of a multi-part documentary to assist put it in context.
