A legendary drifter will show that even in drifting, it will be possible to use electrically-powered cars. The driver is ’Drift King’ Keiichi Tsuchiya of Japan who is credited with inspiring and popularising the sport of drift globally.
In professional drifting, the powerplants of the cars must generate huge amounts of power and Tsuchiya will have just the right sort of car for the demonstration in Australia – the new Hyundai IONIQ 5 N.
N Grin Boost mode
The high-performance version of the IONIQ 5 developed by Hyundai Motor’s N division debuted at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in July. It has an enhanced dual-motor powertrain which can generate up to 478 kW (650 ps) and 740 Nm of torque with the ‘N Grin Boost’ mode engaged.
The 6.7% increase (over normal output) is available for short periods and obviously maxes the output of the motors. This would certainly raise temperatures and Hyundai N has worked hard on the management of the temperature levels of the 84 kWh battery pack.
Efficient thermal management is vital to ensuring reliable performance on the track. The driver can choose from 2 different battery pre-conditioning modes optimised either for a short burst of power or consistent lapping.
Range or maximum power
It is also possible to specify Endurance or Sprint modes for more specific battery performance. If Endurance is a priority, range will be maximised but the driver will not be able to get the maximum power output available. For Sprint, output will be prioritised over range.
Other performance-enhancing features of the IONIQ 5 N available for Tsuchiya to use are IONIQ 5 N Corner Rascal (body and chassis reinforcements provide higher torsional rigidity and direct steering feel) and N Pedal which creates an aggressive weight transfer for sharp corner entry, while an integrated Torque Kick Drift function allows for instant drift initiation.
Drift like a pro
There is also N Drift Optimiser which integrates front and rear torque distribution, torque rate, suspension stiffness, steering effort and the e-LSD system to create a driving mode dedicated for drifting. It is intended for drivers of all skill levels to be able to put the car sideways like a pro but since Tsuchiya is already a pro, he probably doesn’t need it!
The 67-year old driver will pilot Hyundai N’s first all-electric model in a series of demonstration laps at the World Time Attack Challenge which will be held on September 1/2 at the Sydney Motorsport Park in Australia.
About Keiichi Tsuchiya
Tsuchiya is perhaps the most famous figure in the sport of drift globally. He began sliding cars sideways as a way to overtake. However, he admits that while it is not always the quickest way of going around a corner, it is definitely the most fun – and it is certainly dramatic to watch.
Tsuchiya rose to fame with his Toyota AE86 Trueno (Levin) in the late 1970s, skilfully drifting his car in videos that began appearing then. Drifting to entertain the crowd on the final lap while competing in the All Japan Touring Car Championship, his legendary status was cemented. As Drift King, he went on to found the D1 Grand Prix, the first professional drift series.
The IONIQ 5 is available in Malaysia in three versions, with duty-free prices starting from RM207,808 (excluding insurance). To know more, visit www.hyundai.com.my.