Porsche Admits the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Is Influencing Its Next EV Sports Cars

The EV Hot Hatch Everyone’s Paying Attention To

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is just a brilliant EV, silently turning into the performance nameplate that even legacy sports-car brands can’t ignore. And we’re not talking about smaller brands punching up. Lamborghini has taken it for a spin. BMW M has dissected its tricks. Now, Porsche is openly joining that list of admirers.

The Ioniq 5 N’s appeal isn’t mysterious – it carries serious output with a layer of theatrics that makes electric performance feel more familiar to drivers coming from combustion cars. Its simulated gearshifts, synthesised powertrain sounds, and sharp responses have become conversation starters throughout the industry.

Porsche’s Eye-Opening Test Drives

Speaking to Australian media at the Icons of Porsche festival, Frank Moser, head of the 718 and 911 model lines, didn’t hide his reaction after spending time in the Ioniq 5 N. “We learnt a lot from that,” he told Drive. “I drove it several times. They made it really, really good.”

He recounted taking GT boss Andreas Preuninger for a run in the Hyundai. Preuninger initially shrugged it off with a dry “I don’t want any of that electric stuff,” but changed his tune quickly once Moser tapped the N Grin Boost button. “He was ‘Wow’. They did something which was impressive,” Moser said.

Moser confirmed the next-generation electric 718 is exploring virtual sounds and simulated shifts as optional features. “The customer could decide if he wants to drive in complete silent mode, or he wants to be part of the game, feeling the virtual sounds of a flat six and the virtual gear shifts,” he said.

Lamborghini and BMW Taking Notes

As mentioned, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann has driven the Ioniq 5 N as part of the brand’s search for the right character for its upcoming Lanzador. He isn’t personally sold on synthetic combustion noise, but still acknowledges the Hyundai as a useful benchmark while they explore what an electric Lamborghini should sound and feel like.

BMW M has taken it even further. After previously dismissing the idea, BMW M boss Frank van Meel now says simulated shifts and sound may play a role in future M EVs. He points to the Ioniq 5 N’s ability to give drivers speed and load cues without forcing them to look down at screens – something he believes matters on track.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N wasn’t built to impress the exotic-car world, but it seems to be doing that anyway. Its influence is starting to show up in the thinking of brands that once resisted the idea of electric theatrics, and that says something about where performance EVs may be heading.