Hyundai Ioniq 6 N 2026: 478kW halo car confirmed for Australia to put Tesla Model 3 Performance through its paces

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Hyundai has confirmed its Ioniq 6 N performance sedan flagship will launch in Australia in the first half of 2026, providing the Korean automaker with a sedan-shaped answer to the Tesla Model 3 Performance, Polestar 2 Performance LR, and BYD Seal Performance. 

Pricing is yet to be confirmed for Hyundai’s new ‘N’ halo, but will likely exceed close relatives Kia EV6 GT, priced from $99,590, and Hyundai’s own Ioniq 5 N performance SUV, priced from $110,383. Both prices are before on-road costs.

Currently, the Ioniq 6 range tops out at $89,500 before on-roads for the Epiq DSM AWD, which produces 239kW/605Nm.

Note that aforementioned rivals Tesla, Polestar, and BYD start from $80,900, $85,080, and $61,990 respectively, before on-road costs.

But where rivals, and even siblings, struggle to crack 400kW (with the exception of Tesla’s 461kW/730Nm ‘3), Hyundai’s new performance sedan boasts 448kW and 770Nm — an outrageous figure which is increased to 478kW with ‘N Grin Boost’ activated. 

The 30kW ‘N’ kick-in-the-pants lasts for up to ten seconds before entering a ten second cooldown. During this time, the Ioniq 6 N can sprint from 0-100km/hr in 3.2 seconds. 

Standard adaptive electric dampers, lower ride height, tweaked suspension and steering geometry, stiffer rear anti-roll bar, improved body rigidity, and an electronic limited slip differential (e-LSD) will seek to further the Ioniq 6 N’s capabilities, particularly on track. 

The Ioniq 6 N additionally gains a larger battery over its ‘Epiq’ counterpart, improving capacity from 77.4kWh to 84kWh, also picking up an N-division battery control unit for internal temperature optimisation. Both vehicles are built on 800-volt electronic architecture. 

Rapid DC charging from 10 to 80-percent takes as little as 18 minutes, peaking at 350kW. Local AC charging figures are not yet available.

The Ioniq 6 N is a whisker larger than the current range topping Ioniq 6 Epiq. That car measures 4855mm long, 1880mm wide, and 1495mm tall, where the ‘N’ adds 80mm in overall length and 60mm in width, while also increasing its wheelbase from 2950mm to 2965mm.

Additional N-specific features include 20-inch forged wheels, illuminated ‘N’ badging, and signature Performance Blue Pearl paint, while inside, the N gains a performance ‘N’ steering wheel, driver knee brace for harsh cornering, and bucket seats with a blend of alcantara and leather upholstery. 

The Ioniq 6 N joins a growing list of performance electric vehicles which simulate mechanical gear changing, as well as piping artificial engine sound into the cabin. Artificial “engine” sound can be changed by the driver, from “ignition” to “evolution” or “lightspeed”. 

Like all Ioniq 6 models, the N will be sold with a comprehensive suite of driver safety features, as well as drive modes and an exclusive ‘N Drift’ mode. 

Whether the 6 N will share a five-star ANCAP safety rating with other Ioniq 6 models remains to be seen — sibling Ioniq 5 N is unrated due to its bucket seats and lack of centre airbag, where ‘regular’ Ioniq 5’s are rated at five stars.