Hyundai sets fastest time for mass-produced electric car in 'Pikes Peak Hill Climb'

Hyundai Motor Company competed in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, USA, on Sunday (23 June), achieving the fastest time for a mass-produced electric vehicle.

The Pikes Peak Hillclimb, often referred to as the 'Race in the Clouds', is the second oldest motorsport event in the United States, first held in 1916, and is a venerable competition that showcases the performance of vehicles as they climb up and down the peak of Pikes Peak in the Rocky Mountains.

The race starts at an altitude of 2,862 metres and finishes at 4,302 metres, with a total length of 19.99 kilometres and 156 bends along the way. It is a challenging race that requires not only performance but also durability and reliability to complete. Hyundai entered its high-performance electric vehicle, the Ioniq 5 N, in the Exhibition category of the event as both a modified and unmodified production electric SUV/crossover.

Firstly, Hyundai introduced the IONIQ 5 N TA (Time Attack) Spec, a modified version of the IONIQ 5 N that is optimally set up for the gruelling race. It has the same high-capacity battery and high-power motor system as the production car, with some software changes to increase the power output (up to 687 hp), and a motorsport-specific package including shock absorbers, 18-inch slick tyres, and aerodynamic enhancements to provide the best possible environment for the driver to race faster and safer.

Dani Sordo of Hyundai's World Rally Team and Randy Pobst, a Motor Trend journalist who has competed in the Pikes Peak Hillclimb many times, were the Ioniq 5 N TA Spec drivers.

The IONIQ 5 N TA Spec, the first production EV to compete in the event, was driven by Dani Sordo, who was a seasoned driver despite making his first appearance, and finished in a time of 9 minutes 30.852 seconds, beating the previous best time of 9 minutes 54.901 seconds for a production EV sedan. The IONIQ 5 N TA Spec finished the event on a high note, taking first place in the Exhibition category and third overall among this year's entries.

Also competing as an unmodified car, the IONIQ 5 N, driven by automotive influencer Ron Zaras, crossed the finish line in a time of 10 minutes 49.267 seconds, beating the previous best time for an unmodified production electric sedan of 11 minutes 2.801 seconds.

Hyundai succeeded in achieving the fastest time for a mass-produced electric vehicle in the notoriously challenging event, once again demonstrating the powerful performance of the Ioniq 5 N, which incorporates Hyundai's advanced electrification technology to push driving performance to the extreme.

In particular, despite being an electric vehicle, it has attracted much attention for its ability to complete the 20km course without compromising performance through optimal temperature control of the battery, and for its 'N Active Sound' feature, which mimics the sound of a real engine for spectator safety and excitement.

"We are pleased to participate in the historic Pikes Peak Hill Climb to showcase the outstanding performance of the IONIQ 5 N. We will continue to promote the technology of the N brand through various motorsport activities and strive to deliver vehicles that customers want through technological development," said Hyundai Motor Company.

Hyundai first competed in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in 1992 in a Scoupe, winning in a time of 13 minutes 21.17 seconds in an unmodified two-wheel drive production car, and in 2012 in a Genesis Coupe, setting a new course record of 9 minutes 46.164 seconds.

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Photo Hyundai Motor Company