Hyundai Doesn't Care That the Ioniq 6 N Doesn't Make the Most Financial Sense
Most new vehicles have to make financial sense before they can enter serial production, but occasionally, automakers understand that vibes are more important than the bottom line. Hyundai’s taking that approach with the new Ioniq 6 N, telling its engineers and designers to “do it,” regardless of the dollars and cents.
The head of Hyundai’s Performance Development Tech Unit, Manfred Harrer, said the car is aimed at more than turning a profit. “These are small volumes, and we also hit the limit regarding affordability for our customer base and fans face reality. We know this. Normally. You’re always running the business case first, and the investment, and the material cost, and the volume behind it. And normally in the automotive industry, you’re often very limited on this. But here, it was clear if we have the ideas to improve the car, make it faster, improve the performance, make it easier to drive, do it.”
The upcoming Ioniq 6 N gets the rowdy dual-motor setup out of the Ioniq 5 N, but the sleeker 6 promises better performance thanks to improved aerodynamics. Hyundai quotes a 0-62 mph time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 160 mph. The car will also feature the same electronic goodies that the 5 offers, including simulated shifts, a drift mode, and temporary boost settings.
[Images: Hyundai]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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I don't think Toyota made any money on the first-gen Prius. That car seemed to work out OK for them in the long-run.
Just another boring, soulless ev