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Hyundai IONIQ 5 N to compete for electric production SUV/crossover record at Pikes Peak Hill Climb
Hyundai IONIQ 5 N to compete for electric production SUV/crossover record at Pikes Peak Hill Climb
Hyundai is bound to spark a lot of excitement at the 102nd running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) in America on 23 June 2024 when two 471 kW Hyundai IONIQ 5 N cars will go after the Electric Production SUV/Crossover record as part of a four-car effort.
"We are returning to the mountain stronger than we have left it, with a class leading electric SUV in the form of IONIQ 5 N," said Till Wartenberg, head of N Brand and Motorsport. "Hyundai has a history of proving new technologies and products at Pikes Peak, going all the way back to 1992 and the IONIQ 5 N brings that concept to high performance electric cars. The production spec IONIQ 5 N will demonstrate what customers can expect from their vehicles."
The drivers of the IONIQ 5 N vehicles going for the Electric Production SUV/Crossover record at Pikes Peak in Colorado are Paul Dallenbach and Ron Zaras. Dallenbach is an eleven-time PPIHC winner and set an overall record in 1993. Zaras is a PPIHC rookie and the newest team member.
"As a lifelong fan of rallying, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has been a bucket list event to take part in from the first time I watched the film 'Climb Dance' on a 56k internet connection," said Zaras. "So, competing here for my first time ever in the IONIQ 5 N - with the support of the excellent teams at Hyundai - is an incredible honour."
In addition, Hyundai will debut a modified specification IONIQ 5 N to compete at PPIHC prior to the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring on May 30. Two of these additional IONIQ 5 N models will be driven by Dani Sordo and Robin Shute. Shute is a four-time overall winner and King of the Mountain title holder at Pikes Peak. Sordo is a Spanish World Rally Championship driver for Hyundai Motorsport.
Hyundai chose to pursue the PPIHC Electric Production SUV/Crossover record with a IONIQ 5 N because it embodies the racetrack capability of every N performance vehicle. IONIQ 5 N has been tested in extreme temperatures and locations and developed and tuned specifically at the Nürburgring Nordschleife for enhanced racetrack capability.
In every other way, the IONIQ 5 N being prepared for Pikes Peak is a standard IONIQ 5 N. In the future, the red paint will be swapped with a new eye-catching Hyundai N livery.