Hyundai once again have raised the bar for the performance in Electric Vehicles (EV) when the IONIQ 5 made history by setting the fastest lap time in the legendary Tsukuba Circuit in Ibaraki Prefecture.
This historic event took place at the prestigious ‘Attack Tsukuba 2025’ event in Japan on 15 February. The beast that was responsible for the historic moment was piloted by none other than the Japanese racing ace Nobuteru Taniguchi.
With a jaw-dropping lap time of 57.446 seconds, the IONIQ 5 N TA Spec smashed the competition, clocking in nearly two seconds faster than the nearest EV rival.
“I’m honoured to have had the opportunity to drive the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N TA Spec at Attack Tsukuba 2025, which enabled me to significantly break my previous EV record,” said Taniguchi. “The IONIQ 5 N TA Spec stops well and handles excellently. Despite the power, the control is outstanding, with great cornering and smooth, stable corner-exit. I could push the car to the limit with real confidence.”
A Record-Breaking Performance
This machine which is a track-focused evolution of the award-winning IONIQ 5 N, is no stranger to victory. Fresh off its record-setting win at the 2024 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) in the modified production electric SUV category, this beast of an EV proved its prowess once again at Tsukuba.
Staying true to its production DNA, the IONIQ 5 N TA Spec keeps its standard high-performance power electronics (PE) system while unlocking even more potential through expert software tuning. With an electrifying 687 PS under its belt—boosted by an additional 37 PS in the rear motor—it was ready to attack the track with pure speed.
Introducing the IONIQ 5 N DK Edition
Adding to the excitement, Hyundai Mobility Japan also showcased the all-new IONIQ 5 N DK Edition, a special show vehicle featuring a high-performance parts package. Developed in collaboration with Autobacs Seven and legendary racing driver Keiichi Tsuchiya—also known as the ‘Drift King’—the DK Edition is built for true driving enthusiasts.
Hyundai N has big plans to bring the DK Edition N Performance Parts package to market, offering IONIQ 5 N owners an opportunity to push their cars to new heights on both road and track.
With record-breaking lap times, cutting-edge performance, and a growing lineup of high-performance EVs, Hyundai is proving that the future of electric motorsport is here—and it’s electrifying!
Source: Hyundai
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