Hyundai Motor Company announced on June 24 that it achieved excellent results, including setting a record for production electric vehicles at the ‘Pikes Peak Hill Climb’ held in Colorado, USA, on June 23.
Known as the ‘Race Above the Clouds’, the ‘Pikes Peak Hill Climb’ is one of the oldest motorsport events in the United States, having started in 1916. It showcases vehicle performance as competitors drive up and down the Pikes Peak in the Rocky Mountains.
Starting at an altitude of 2,862m and finishing at 4,302m, the total length of the climb is 19.99 km, featuring a total of 156 winding corners. The challenge’s high difficulty requires not only vehicle performance but also durability and stability to complete the race.
For this event, Hyundai used its high-performance electric vehicle, the ‘Ioniq 5 N’, participating in both modified and unmodified categories for electric vehicle SUVs/crossovers under the Exhibition section.
Hyundai showcased the modified vehicle based on the Ioniq 5 N, called the ‘Ioniq 5 N TA (Time Attack) Spec,’ perfectly set up for the challenging race.
The Ioniq 5 N TA Spec is equipped with the same high-capacity battery and high-output motor system as a standard production vehicle, with software tweaks that allow for a power increase (up to 687 horsepower).
Additionally, it featured a motorsport-specific package including shock-absorbing equipment, 18-inch slick tires, and aerodynamic enhancements, providing the driver with the best environment for faster and safer racing.
Hyundai’s World Rally Team driver Dani Sordo, along with motorsport journalist Randy Pobst, who has extensive experience at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, drove the Ioniq 5 N TA Spec.
Despite being a first-time entry, the modified Ioniq 5 N TA Spec, driven expertly by Dani Sordo, completed the course in 9 minutes 30.852 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 9 minutes 54.901 seconds for modified production electric sedans.
The Ioniq 5 N TA Spec secured not only the first position in the Exhibition category but also ranked third overall among all participating vehicles.
Moreover, the unmodified ‘Ioniq 5 N’ was driven by renowned automotive influencer Ron Zaras, who completed the course in 10 minutes 49.267 seconds, exceeding the existing unmodified production electric sedan record of 11 minutes 2.801 seconds.
Hyundai successfully achieved the record for production electric vehicles in this notoriously challenging competition, further demonstrating the Ioniq 5 N’s powerful performance, a culmination of Hyundai’s advanced electrification technology.
Notably, despite being an electric vehicle, it completed the nearly 20 km course with outstanding results without performance degradation by optimizing battery temperature control. The use of ‘N Active Sound’ technology, which simulates real engine sounds, garnered significant attention while ensuring audience safety and excitement.
A Hyundai official stated, “We are delighted to showcase the superior performance of the Ioniq 5 N at the historic ‘Pikes Peak Hill Climb,'” adding, “We will continue to promote the technological prowess of the N brand and develop vehicles that meet customer desires through various motorsport activities.”
Hyundai first participated in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb with the ‘Scoop’ vehicle in 1992, winning in the two-wheel drive unmodified category with a time of 13 minutes 21.17 seconds. In 2012, they competed with the ‘Genesis Coupe’, setting a course record at 9 minutes 46.164 seconds, showcasing their strong performance.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr