Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Spotted in Malaysia – Launching Soon?

A Hyundai Ioniq 5 N was spotted on Malaysian roads recently, following its initial preview a few months back.
(Photo credit: Yuri Iskandar via Facebook)

Following its official preview several moons ago, it appears the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N has been spotted roaming down the Malaysian road. Published by Facebook user Yuri Iskandar, this particular unit of the Ioniq 5 N appears to be a fully registered unit, indicated by the presence of licence plates on the car.

While there’s not much information that can be derived from the original Facebook post, what we can notice straight away is that this is not the same model displayed by Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) a few months back during the BYD Seal Dynamic launch event. Instead of being draped in the Ioniq 5 N’s signature Performance Blue Matte hue, this specific model is finished in satin-like Ecotronic Grey Matte colour.

Photo credit: Yuri Iskandar via Facebook

What’s also certain is that despite not being the same model as previewed prior, this Ioniq 5 N also comes in a right-hand drive (RHD) form, which also explains the registered nature of this particular unit. Also noticeable here are the Hyundai-branded licence plate brackets, which are often used on models officially sold by HSDM, thus indicating that this particular Ioniq 5 N is not a grey-import unit.

One RHD unit of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N previewed officially by HSDM earlier this year.

Regardless of who’s the actual owner of this Ioniq 5 N, which could also possibly be the first fully-registered example in Malaysia, we’re sure the person behind the wheel will be delighted with the car’s astounding dual-motor setup that delivers up to 650 PS (478 kW) and 770 NM.

Not only does said setup allow a rapid 0-100 KM/H sprint of only 3.4 seconds and a V-Max of 260 KM/H, but it is also paired with a host of trick driving functions such as the N e-shift that stimulates the gearshifts made by an eight-speed DCT, as well as other N-specific features such as N Drift Optimiser, N Grin Boost, N Launch Control, N Race driving mode, N Brake Regen, N Active Sound+, and many more.

Prior to this sighting, HSDM has yet to give any indication of whether the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N will be sold in our markets in the near future, with rumours suggesting that this manic EV hot-hatch is set to be priced somewhere around the RM390,000 region. But given we’ve already seen one registered unit rolling down our backyard, perhaps it won’t be long before we get to see the Ioniq 5 N making its official market entry, possibly before the current tax-free waiver for fully-imported (CBU) EVs expires in 2026.