The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N is Ready to Play

Following the success of the hot hatch-like Ioniq 5 N, Hyundai’s N division has turned its focus to the Ioniq 6. Unveiled today at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the slinky, high-performance sedan gets more power, a range of chassis improvements, and high tech toys, to boot.

As with any performance vehicle, the improvements start under the hood, as it were. The electric sedan gets the same AWD, multi-motor powertrain as the Ioniq 5 N, meaning drivers have access to up to 641 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque for short stints in Boost mode. That allows the Ioniq 6 N to reach 100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds — 0.2 seconds faster than the Ioniq 5 N.

Given a long enough stretch of runway, the electric vehicle (EV) could reach a top speed of 257 km/h thanks in part to its aerodynamic body. Despite the widened fenders and the addition of a motorsport-inspired swan neck rear wing, the Ioniq 6 N has a coefficient of drag of 0.27 — the standard model has a drag coefficient of 0.21 but the Ioniq 5 has a drag coefficient of 0.28.

The small addition of drag was necessary to help the Ioniq 6 N handle high-speed corners better. Along with the downforce, the EV benefits from an improved suspension with fully redesigned geometry for better precision on the racetrack. Hyundai says that it hasn’t gone too far, though. Despite the handling-focused suspension setup, the car will still be comfortable on real-world roads thanks to stroke-sensing electronically controlled suspension that actively adjusts to road conditions.

To go with the extra power, the Ioniq 6 N gets optimized battery management software that focuses on keeping the batteries cool. Indeed, the EV will actively condition the battery pack in order to deliver more performance and, importantly, longer-lasting driving sessions.

So the Ioniq 6 N gets the basics right, but because it’s an EV, Hyundai has felt the need to give it a wide range of high-tech toys to ensure it’s an engaging playmate. To make up for the lack of an engine note, the car gets N Active Sound +, which creates range of sounds that build with speed and give drivers an audio cue as to what’s going on beneath them.

The sounds work alongside lights in the cabin to complement the N e-shift technology that simulates gearshifts. The system has been improved since its implementation in the Ioniq 5 N to deliver the feeling of quick shifts while minimizing the performance loss associated with shift shock.

Other toys include the N Drift Optimizer, which allows owners to customize parameters like angle and wheel spin when they initiate a drift. The N Track Manager allows drivers to create custom tracks and to monitor their speed data and performance with a virtual “ghost car.”

On the purely aesthetic side of the equation, the Ioniq 6 N features a new exterior paint clolour: Performance Blue Pearl. A play on the N division’s traditional shade of blue, it features a pearlescent finish. Otherwise, the car can be ordered in Abyss Black Pearl, Serenity White Pearl, Nocturne Gray Metallic, Nocturne Gray Matte, or Gravity Gold Matte.

Unfortunately, pricing has not yet been announced for the Ioniq 6 N at time of writing. Range figures will also be released at a later date.