Hyundai Motor introduced its first high-performance electric vehicle (EV), the IONIQ 5 N, during its digital debut at the Gran Turismo (GT) World Series 2024 World Finals, held from December 7 to 8 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. This groundbreaking event marks a significant milestone for Hyundai’s electrification strategy and its foray into high-performance electric vehicles.
IONIQ 5 N’s Debut in the GT World Series
The IONIQ 5 N took center stage at the GT World Series, participating in the Qualifying Time Trial session of the Nations Cup World Final. Ahead of its official inclusion in the Gran Turismo 7 (GT7) game in January 2025, this introduction underscores Hyundai’s commitment to integrating advanced EV technology with immersive digital experiences.
As part of the event, an exclusive in-game IONIQ 5 N reward was made available through the Viewers Gift campaign, allowing players to secure the vehicle by participating in the Nations Cup via the campaign banner in the World Map of Gran Turismo. This reward will officially roll out with the January 2025 GT7 update, bridging the gap between real-world engineering and virtual racing.
Hyundai’s Collaboration with Gran Turismo
The collaboration between Hyundai Motor Company and Gran Turismo was first announced during the Nürburgring 24 race in May 2024, where the IONIQ 5 N TA Spec demonstrated its prowess by setting a modified production electric SUV record at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
Joon Park, Vice President of the N Brand Management Group, commented:
“The IONIQ 5 N is an excellent starting point for our collaboration with Gran Turismo. We aim to develop more Hyundai N models for Gran Turismo 7, allowing players worldwide to experience the high performance of Hyundai N in the virtual space.”
Gran Turismo and Hyundai’s Esports Vision
Kazunori Yamauchi, Producer of the Gran Turismo Series, lauded Hyundai’s achievements in motorsports and the potential for future collaborations:
“We are excited to release the IONIQ 5 N in Gran Turismo 7. Hyundai’s N brand has had an outstanding year, securing victories in the TCR class at Nürburgring 24 Hours, breaking records at Pikes Peak, and winning the WRC drivers’ championship. This partnership opens new opportunities in the Esports sector.”