Hyundai has no sooner let loose the astonishing Ioniq 5 N high-performance electric car (we've driven it, it's amazing, see more HERE) than its also souping it up even further. This is the Ioniq 5 NPX1, as seen at the Tokyo Auto Salon this week.
In-house tuning company
Now, the Tokyo Auto Salon is basically a tuning and car customisation show, rather like America's SEMA event, so it's little surprise to see this Ioniq 5 NPX1 suitably slathered with more body kit. However, this isn't some aftermarket tuning monstrosity - the NPX1 has been designed by N Performance Parts, Hyundai's own in-house performance skunkworks, which has been working on faster Hyundais, such as the Elantra N, i30 N and i20 N, since 2019.
Carbon-fibre parts
Now, N Performance Parts is turning its attention to the Ioniq 5, and this NPX1 concept gets a carbon front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser, rear wing spoiler, lightweight hybrid carbon wheels, high-performance brake pads and lowering springs. The NPX1's interior is further enhanced with lashings of Alcantara suede-like material and racing bucket seats.
Remote upgrades
This is just a concept for now, as N Performance Parts is still working on the final items, but they'll be developed and made available for the Ioniq 5 N during 2024, and that will be the starting gun for a general expansion of N Performance Parts availability for all Hyundai N models. And it won't just be about bodykits and sexy bucket seats, either. N Performance Parts is going to start tinkering under the hood a bit more and will be able to upgrade your N model by simply sending a software update, in some circumstances...
"In 2024, Hyundai Motor Company will take a step forward as a leader in new tuning parts suitable for the high-performance EV era as demonstrated with the NPX1 concept model," said Joon Park, Vice President of N Brand Management Group. "Not limited to tuning parts, we are also developing software customisation such as sound and vehicle calibration by OTA updates which will open a completely new category of EV customisation for an exciting future ahead for the tuning community."