Hyundai held its N Festival in South Korea last night to celebrate its racing achievements in 2023. But there was a surprise. Hyundai revealed concept images of the Ioniq 5 eN1 Cup race car along with some juicy technical specifications, with the goal to finish development work in February 2024.
Featuring an aggressive body kit with massive air intakes, a large diffuser, and a rear wing, the Ioniq 5 eN1 Cup sits on 18-inch wheels wrapped in 280/680 R18 slick tires. It gets a stiffer suspension setup lowering the ride height by as much as 2.8 inches. Stopping power is supplied by six-piston front and four-piston rear brake calipers, and to quickly lift the car, it has an air jack. Hyundai is also giving it a six-point, FIA-compliant roll cage, and upgraded battery protection.
The biggest change will be the weight loss, which estimated to be as much as 551 pounds (250 kilograms). Full details have yet to be disclosed since the Ioniq 5 eN1 Cup is still being developed, but we do know the side and rear glass is being replaced with polycarbonate. We still don't know how much the street-legal Ioniq 5 N weighs, but it’s estimated to tip the scales at 4,650 lbs (2,109 kg).
Additional hardware changes include an adjustable suspension with spherical-joint pillowball mounts to stiffen the connection with the chassis. It also has disconnectors in case the battery runs too hot. Each team that will race the Ioniq 5 eN1 Cup will have its own fake engine sound. In addition, the drivers will be allowed to simulate gear changes by using the N E-Shift function, which mimics the behavior of an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The Ioniq 5 eN1 Cup is more than just for show since it'll actually go racing. If everything goes according to plan, it'll hit the track as early as May 2024 in what Hyundai refers to as Korea's first one-make EV competition.
