Research shows: new Hyundai IONIQ 5 N makes truly happy
Research Hyundai IONIQ 5 N
Hyundai conducted the experiment to answer the question: can the IONIQ 5 N have a positive effect on drivers in Rjukan. Participating in the study were 20 local residents from the Rjukan region with clear indications of the “winter blues,” in which people are mentally a little less comfortable. “It’s cold here, dark, that does something to your mind. It’s a demanding place to live,” said one resident.
Amount of happiness in the brain
Neuroscientist Shani Tal conducted the scientific research using the Depth of Joy measurement method. This DOJO exploration statistic was developed to measure physical and neurological processes before, during and after the ride. Several technologies were used during the study to collect relevant data about people: brain activity, skin conductance and heart rate variability. Before and after each ride, a team of neuroscientists measured the Depth of Joy: the amount of happiness in the driver’s brain, or DOJO.
The survey results
The results exceeded expectations. There is an average increase of 28 percent in DOJO metrics. In addition, those studied show a 75% improved positive emotional response based on physiological data. In other words, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N is happiness-enhancing and actually affects people’s moods. This makes the car more than just a vehicle, but also a means to positively influence mood and provide joy.
Electric car can be quite fun
For Hyundai, the survey results are interesting as the brand strives to integrate emotional well-being considerations into the present and future of mobility. In other words, an electric car is allowed to be fun. The new IONIQ 5 N speaks volumes in that regard. It sounds like a gasoline-powered car, you can shift gears at will, and with a simple swipe on the touchscreen you can turn it into a rear-wheel-drive car. The car was developed as an EV for the petrolhead, and Hyundai has brilliantly succeeded in that mission with the IONIQ 5 N.
In conversation with Jean-Claude Martens, the N boss
“But that was anything but an easy task,” says Jean-Claude Martens, Head of High Performance Vehicle Department at Hyundai Motor Europe Technical. “The IONIQ 5 N was the hardest Hyundai N ever to develop, because there is an awful lot of technology in the car. And, of course, we didn’t yet know how people were going to react to all the systems. Our main mission was to develop a car that should appeal to everyone – regardless of driver level. For that reason, we developed the N Drift Mode where the car helps the driver achieve a decent drift. But for advanced drivers, we have also incorporated N Torque Distribution where you turn the car into a rear-wheel-drive car. That way, a drift can also be induced naturally.”
Rev limiter in an EV?
Still, the shifting system in the IONIQ 5 N in particular was the most difficult task during the car’s development, Martens admits. “Thanks to N Shift, it is possible to shift gears yourself in this car. If you don’t shift up in time, there is also a rev limiter. The car then holds back firmly, exactly like a car with a combustion engine. The IONIQ 5 N simulates the feel of a high-performance gasoline-powered car. As a driver, you get feedback through the speakers, including pops & bangs from the “exhaust. We wanted to make it as realistic an experience as possible.”
Good for your endorphin levels
The feedback from all the buyers and journalists Hyundai is taking back into future N models. One such model will be an IONIQ 6 N that is expected to adopt much of the technology of the IONIQ 5 N. So that “six” will also be a car to look forward to, because about the IONIQ 5 N we can only conclude that, as a petrolhead, it will put a big smile on your face. And after this research, the car also appears to be a perfect cure for the “winter blues. Enjoy every day, is the message. For 73,995 euros, Hyundai hands over the keys to a car whose endorphin levels will get a gigantic boost. The residents of Rjukan can attest to that.
This changes everything!
