Just What Exactly Is The Hyundai NPX1?

It’s not just the Japanese manufacturers bringing some interesting creations to this Friday’s Tokyo Auto Salon. Hyundai is flying a new creation from its N division over to the tuning-focused show, dubbed the NPX1. What exactly is it, though?

We can say for sure it’s going to be based on the Ioniq 5 N, albeit evidently with a fair few modifications. From the teaser, we can make out a new, gigantic rear wing, more aggressive bumpers with some carbon fibre adds and a set of extended side skirts.

The initial expectation is that this may be some even further hotted-up Ioniq 5  N in the same vein Toyota occasionally throws out a GRMN version of Gazoo’s products, but it does feel a little too soon for that. After all, the base car has only just gone on sale and with 641bhp on-tap, it’s hardly being sold short at launch.

Perhaps then, it could be the race car Hyundai previously confirmed is in development. Set for its own one-make racing series in Korea, the Ioniq 5 eN1 is set to get the usual motorsport treatment - stiffer suspension, a roll cage and a gigantic aero kit. Comparing these teasers with the previously-shown render though, it doesn’t quite add up.

Maybe the biggest giveaway of all lies in the teaser video’s description. Hiding among it is ‘#NPerformanceParts’, hinting this could be a demo model for a new range of optional extras that Ioniq 5 customers will be able to buy. Hyundai previously did the same for the i30 N, which pretty much transformed the car from a hot hatch to a wannabe touring car.

If that’s the case, it looks as though the NPX1 could be just as audacious, albeit don’t expect any extra performance to be offered. We can only speculate but, if this is to demonstrate parts going on sale, we’d presume new alloy wheels plus some interior bits will be offered.

We won’t have much longer to wait to find out, anyway. Hyundai will reveal the NPX1 on Friday at 2:30 am.