Historic racing team Vanwall’s mysterious Vandervell electric hot hatch is now more than a digital teaser, as real-world images confirm the long-rumoured Ioniq 5 N twin has emerged in the wild, wearing bespoke carbon-fibre bodywork and serious rally-car intent.
Built atop Hyundai’s E-GMP platform, it shares its architecture - and, at its peak, its 478kW output - with the Ioniq 5 N, but carries a dramatically altered identity.
The Austrian-German ByKOLLES Racing Team, operating under the revived Vanwall name, is behind the project. Their goal? Combine daily usability with motorsport-grade performance. “Driven like the highest class luxurious limousine, or like a rally/racing car,” is how founder Dr Colin Kolles puts it.
Lighter, faster, rarer
The carbon-fibre shell doesn’t just add aggression. It cuts more than 230kg from the standard Ioniq 5 N’s heft, bringing the Vandervell Thin Wall Special to under 2000kg. That weight loss, when paired with all-wheel drive and the full 478kW/740Nm output, makes this electric hatch not just quicker, but sharper across the board.
Acceleration figures haven’t been confirmed, but given the Ioniq 5 N's claimed 0–100km/h time of around 3.0 seconds, expect the Vandervell to shave further tenths, especially with that diet.
Visual punch meets limited production
The design takes heavy cues from the Lancia Delta Integrale, particularly in its quad headlight treatment, flared arches and rear buttresses. Massive 22-inch gold alloys complete the silhouette. It’s a modernised homage to rally legends, fused with modern EV aggression.
Three versions are planned: the entry-level H-GT (239kW), mid-tier Thin Wall Special (lightweight focus), and the flagship N-GT (478kW). Production is capped at 500 units, with a starting price listed at €128,000 - unchanged since initial announcements in 2023.
Race team roots, future plans
Vanwall, once an F1 title-winning nameplate, now acts as a road-going extension of ByKOLLES’ WEC efforts. Beyond the hatch, the firm’s future includes a 1000kW/1000kg road-legal hypercar and even a proposed hyperbike. Few details exist, but the ambition is clear.
While delivery timelines remain fluid, what’s certain is that Vanwall has delivered something rare in the EV space: genuine personality backed by proven hardware and a badge with motorsport teeth.
