The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a revelation — a fun-forward twist on the performance EV that turns a good crossover into a great hot hatchback. Next, a recent teaser for a Tokyo Auto Salon reveal suggests that Road & Track’s 2025 under-$100,000 Performance EV of the Year might already be getting even more fun, thanks to a collaboration with drifting icon Keiichi “DK” Tsuchiya.
The truncated video shows Tsuchiya mention the words “ascending to another level” before introducing the car, which is shown in full in a handful of shots. In those brief clips, a huge rear wing can be seen on the back of what the brand is calling the Ioniq 5 N DK Edition.
Based on what we know so far, it’s unclear if this DK Edition will be a one-off built for the show, a small limited run exclusive to Japan, or a full-fledged new variant of the performance-oriented Hyundai. Production variants of road cars named after specific racing drivers are rare, but they have been made in the past. One famous example is the Tommi Mäkinen Edition of the Mitsubishi Evo VI, which Mäkinen apparently does not own. Mercedes went a more extreme route with their Stirling Moss variant of the SLR, which was a speedster with a completely unique design.
Tsuchiya, 68, is a legend known best for popularizing both drifting and the AE86. He also won his class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice and came second overall in 1999. A new generation, it seems, may soon know him as the name on the back of a beloved Hyundai. The brand will reveal more when the car is unveiled at the Japanese auto show on January 10th.
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