- The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N sets a new Pikes Peak Hill Climb record for the modified electric SUV or crossover class
- The record time was set by Hyundai World Rally driver Dani Sordo
- The car that set the record was a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N time trial special known as TA Spec
Hyundai set a record in Pikes Peak International Climb on Sunday using your Compact electric crossover Ioniq 5 N.
Competing in the exhibition class, Hyundai World Rally driver Dani Sordo piloted a special time attack Ioniq 5 N known as the TA Spec version to the finish line with a time of 9:30.852. That’s a record for a modified electric SUV or crossover, and it also resulted in Sordo taking home a class win.
A second Ioniq 5 N TA Spec was driven on the day by Randy Pobst with a time of 9:55.551.
Maximum power in the TA Spec is recorded at 677 hp, up from the standard rating of 641 hp. Hyundai said this was achieved purely by modifying the software that controls the rear engine of the dual-motor all-wheel drive setup.
Other modifications include a high downforce package designed for the thinner air near the summit of 14,115-foot Pikes Peak, as well as upgraded shock absorbers and brakes and a set of Yokohama ADVAN 005 slick tires. it has also been updated to emit a sound of more than 120 db, both to improve feedback to the driver and to avoid using warning sirens that quieter EVs must carry at the event, Hyundai said.
![Dani Sordo Dani Sordo](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/hyundai-ioniq-5-n-ta-spec-at-2024-pikes-peak-international-hill-climb_100933779_l.webp.webp)
Dani Sordo
A production Ioniq 5 N sporting only the mandatory safety modifications for Pikes Peak was also entered. It was ridden by former Hoonigan employee Ron Zaras in his debut on the mountain. He finished with a time of 10:49.267. This is a first for a production SUV at Pikes Peak, and just a few seconds shy of the record for all production SUVs, a time of 10:48.902 set by Rhys Millen on a Bentley Bentayga in 2018.
Hyundai planned to launch a second production Ioniq 5 N this year, to be driven by longtime Pikes Peak veteran Paul Dallenbach. However, the vehicle was damaged during training.
Unlike their internal combustion counterparts, EVs are unaffected by the thin air experienced near the summit of Pikes Peak. However, rapid ascent requires a lot of energy to be delivered in a short period, which can result in the batteries overheating.
An EV currently holds the absolute climb record: O Volkswagen ID.R The time trial special ran 7:57.148 in 2018.
The absolute winner in this year’s Hill Climb was taken by Romain Dumas at the wheel of the 1,600 hp engine Ford F-150 Lightning Supertruck time attack special. He clocked a time of 8:53.533, which was impressive considering the electric truck stopped during the race and had to be restarted. Dumas was also the driver of the ID.R during its record-breaking run.