When it comes to promoting a car, automakers have pulled out all the stops, from flashy ad campaigns to celebrity endorsements. But one avenue that’s become surprisingly common? Video games. PlayStation’s Gran Turismo series has long been a favorite playground for brands to flex their futuristic concepts. While most companies showcase cars that look more like UFOs than street rides, Hyundai is taking a practical yet electrifying approach with its IONIQ 5 N.
Making its digital debut during the Gran Turismo World Series 2024 – World Finals, Hyundai’s high-performance electric beast brings some serious juice to the virtual track. With a staggering 478 kW (650 horsepower) and 770 Nm (568 lb-ft) of torque in its “N Grin Boost” mode, the IONIQ 5 N can give even the wildest concept cars a run for their polygons.
This isn’t just an EV with a flashy badge—it’s a track-ready powerhouse complete with a high-output 84 kWh battery and EV-specific thermal management. Translation? It’s designed to stay cool even when you’re pushing it to its virtual limits.
Players got an early taste of the IONIQ 5 N during the World Finals and can officially claim it as a part of their in-game garage when Gran Turismo 7 drops its January 2025 update. For those who tuned in to the Nations Cup stream, Hyundai sweetened the deal by offering the IONIQ 5 N as a special reward, a win-win for fans of both gaming and motorsports.
As Hyundai’s first high-performance electric vehicle, the IONIQ 5 N is leading the charge (pun intended) for the company’s electrification strategy. With plans to roll out more N models in the game, Hyundai’s virtual ambitions are revving up faster than you can say “pit stop.”
While we wait for January to bring this electrifying ride to our consoles, the IONIQ 5 N is already proving that Hyundai is playing the long game—in both reality and the virtual world.
Image: Hyundai.
