After years of building its legend in Hondas, Mitsubishis, and most recently a Tesla Model 3, Evasive Motorsports is returning to its import tuner roots—but with a high-voltage twist. For the 2025 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the Southern California-based race team is entering a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, signaling both a shift in focus and a big nod to the growing performance EV segment.
Evasive is no stranger to the mountain. Known for its razor-sharp time attack builds and high-profile appearances at Pikes Peak, the team has used everything from the legendary S2000 to a heavily modified Tesla. But this year’s move to Hyundai’s all-electric performance hatch marks a fresh chapter.
The Ioniq 5 N is no regular EV. Hyundai’s N division has been making serious waves with this 641-horsepower dual-motor beast. It’s fast, responsive, and—unlike many other EVs—it’s fun to drive. The version Evasive is bringing to Pikes Peak will be lightly modified, but it’s already track-capable straight from the factory.
Why make the switch from Tesla? According to team insiders, the Ioniq 5 N offered better thermal management, more consistent lap-time capability, and a platform more open to performance tuning. Simply put: it’s a car built for spirited driving, not just straight-line speed.
This also marks the first time Hyundai has had an independent tuner race its N EV at such a high-profile event. It’s a smart partnership—Evasive gets a fresh platform to push, and Hyundai gets real-world proof of its electric performance pedigree.
As the electric arms race continues at Pikes Peak, all eyes will be on how Evasive and the Ioniq 5 N perform. One thing’s for sure: with this pairing, the hill just got a lot more interesting.
