Hyundai completely transforms its Ioniq 5 N to try and win iconic mountain race
Published on Jul 26, 2025 at 7:05 AM (UTC+4)
by Callum Tokody
Last updated on Jul 21, 2025 at 9:09 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Hyundai just turned the Ioniq 5 N into an electric race car built to attack Pikes Peak, and it’s nothing like the version on the road.
Evasive Motorsports removed more than 500lbs and reworked the suspension, brakes, and body.
Most of the original interior has been replaced with carbon panels and stripped-down controls.
But the real story isn’t what’s changed, it’s what they’re trying to prove at 14,000 feet.
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Ioniq 5 N gets stripped back for the mountain
The Ioniq 5 N has been cut down to the essentials. Evasive Motorsports replaced the factory doors with carbon-fiber versions and removed most of the interior to bring weight down.
It now sits on slick Titan 7 tires, with a Voltex aero kit providing downforce through the mountain’s high-speed sections.
Suspension has been upgraded to handle the rough surface and rapid elevation gain of the Pikes Peak course.
Brakes and cooling systems were also reworked to deal with thinner air and more frequent stress on the drivetrain.
At the wheel will be Rob Walker, who previously raced at Pikes Peak and returns with experience.
Evasive Motorsports last competed here in 2022 with a modified Tesla Model 3.
That earlier effort informed several of the decisions in the Ioniq 5 N build, especially around component durability and weight balance.
The team has not shared power figures or lap simulations.
The benchmark, however, is clear: a sub-10-minute finish.
Only a few electric race cars have achieved that, and even fewer production-based entries.
Pikes Peak becomes a test bed for manufacturers
This version of the Ioniq 5 N isn’t a concept car or a future model.
It’s a current production vehicle that’s been rebuilt for one task.
The Pikes Peak run gives Hyundai a way to push its existing platform in real conditions.
The electric race car isn’t competing for a trophy as much as for data.
Racing at 14,000 feet puts pressure on every system.
Battery temperature, power delivery, brake fade, and aero balance all become harder to manage.
By entering the Ioniq 5 N at Pikes Peak, Hyundai and Evasive Motorsports are joining a growing group of manufacturers using racing to stress-test electric vehicles.
The climb forces teams to simplify, reinforce, and rethink how to build for speed, safety, and stability under extreme pressure.
This particular Ioniq 5 N won’t go on sale, but the lessons learned from this electric race car could influence how Hyundai approaches performance tuning and system management in future EVs.
The climb is short, but what happens on the mountain might go much further.
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Callum Tokody is a content writer at Supercar Blondie, where he covers the latest in the automotive world with a focus on design and performance. Callum has a background in automotive journalism and has contributed to a range of publications in Australia and the UK. Outside of work, he’s a design enthusiast with a soft spot for anything with a V8 and a good story.
