Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Time Spec Breaks Tsukuba Circuit Record, Cementing EV Performance Legacy

Hyundai Motor Company set a new electric vehicle (EV) record at the prestigious Attack Tsukuba 2025 event. On Saturday, the automaker’s Ioniq 5 N Time Spec blazed through Japan’s Tsukuba Circuit Course 2000. Clocking an impressive lap time of 57.446 seconds in the Racing Car & Slick Tire Class.

This remarkable achievement shaves more than two seconds off the previous record of 59.598 seconds, set by the 1,033-horsepower Tesla Model S Plaid last year. The feat comes just seven months after the Ioniq 5 N Time Spec clinched the production EV record at the renowned Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in the United States in June 2024.

The Ioniq 5 N Time Spec is a testament to Hyundai’s engineering prowess. It pushes the boundaries of EV performance while maintaining the core components of its production counterpart. The vehicle showcases minimal racing-specific modifications to the body, motor, and battery systems.

Hyundai’s engineers have fine-tuned the Ioniq 5 N Time Spec’s performance through advanced software optimization, boosting the rear motor output by 37 PS. This enhancement brings the total system output to an impressive 687 PS. Joon Woo Park, Executive Director of Hyundai N Management, commented: “This new record demonstrates Hyundai’s cutting-edge electric vehicle technology. Moving forward, Hyundai N will continue to push boundaries, aiming to seamlessly integrate high-performance electric vehicles into the global automotive landscape through various innovative challenges.”