Porsche engineers just admitted something nobody expected. After driving Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N multiple times, they’re completely rethinking their approach to electric performance. Frank Moser, who runs Porsche’s 718 and 911 programs, called the Korean crossover “eye-opening” and said his team learned things they plan to use in the upcoming electric Boxster and Cayman. Even Porsche’s most skeptical GT engineers changed their minds after one ride.
- Porsche’s VP of 718 and 911 development drove the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N several times and described it as “really, really good.”
- The German sports car maker now plans to add simulated gear shifts and synthetic engine sounds to their 2027 electric 718 models.
- This represents a complete reversal from August 2024 when Porsche development drivers dismissed fake transmission features as unnecessary.
What Made Porsche Take Notice
Walk into any car dealership and you’ll hear salespeople debate which electric cars actually deliver on the promise of performance. The Ioniq 5 N settled that argument faster than most people expected. Hyundai built this thing with 641 horsepower available in 10-second bursts through something called N Grin Boost mode. That red button on the steering wheel dumps the full power of both electric motors into the pavement, rocketing the crossover from zero to 60 in 3.2 seconds.
But raw speed wasn’t what caught Porsche’s attention. The Ioniq 5 N does something unusual for an electric car. It simulates an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with fake gear shifts that you can actually feel through the chassis. The N e-shift system makes the car behave like it’s rowing through gears, complete with simulated load changes. Then there’s the N Active Sound+ system, which lets you pick from different artificial engine noises piped through the speakers.
Most car enthusiasts rolled their eyes when Hyundai announced these features. Fake sounds? Pretend transmissions? It sounded gimmicky. Porsche thought so too, at least initially. Then Frank Moser actually drove one.
From Skeptic to Believer
Getting Andreas Preuninger into that Hyundai took some convincing. Preuninger runs Porsche’s GT division, the people responsible for track monsters like the 911 GT3. When Moser suggested they test the Ioniq 5 N, Preuninger reportedly said, “Leave me alone, I don’t want any of that electric stuff.”
Moser eventually talked him into riding shotgun. Once they were moving, Moser hit the N Grin Boost button. Preuninger’s response? “Wow.” That one word from a guy who builds some of the world’s most respected sports cars says everything about what Hyundai pulled off.
When Australian reporters asked Moser if Porsche would adopt similar features, he quoted The Mandalorian: “This is the way.” But he added one condition. Porsche customers will get to choose. Want to drive in complete silence? You can. Want to hear a simulated flat-six engine and feel fake gear changes? That option will be there too.
The timing makes this story even more interesting. Just over a year ago, Porsche development driver Lars Kern told reporters the company saw no reason to add fake shifter technology. His reasoning was simple: “Why should we make something worse?” Fast forward to late 2024, and Porsche’s top brass is singing a completely different tune.
The Ripple Effect Across the Industry
Porsche isn’t alone in taking Hyundai seriously. Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann drove the Ioniq 5 N while researching their upcoming Lanzador electric model. He’s personally not sold on synthetic combustion sounds, but he acknowledged the Hyundai as a useful benchmark. BMW M division also reversed course. Frank van Meel, who runs BMW M, initially dismissed simulated shifts but now says they might play a role in future M EVs. His reasoning focuses on driver feedback. Those fake gear changes and sounds give you speed and load cues without forcing you to stare at screens, which matters when you’re pushing hard on a track.
What Hyundai figured out goes deeper than adding theater to electric cars. They understood that driving engagement comes from multiple sensory inputs working together. Your hands feel the steering. Your body senses acceleration and braking. Your ears pick up engine notes and transmission whine. Take away the audio and mechanical feedback of a combustion engine, and something feels missing, even if the performance numbers look great on paper.
What This Really Means for Electric Sports Cars
The electric 718 Boxster and Cayman won’t arrive until early 2027. Porsche already confirmed these models will be heavier than their gas-powered predecessors, which is expected with battery packs. But Moser’s comments suggest Porsche is working hard to maintain the driving character that made the 718 platform special. Swapping in electric motors and calling it done won’t cut it.
Here’s what makes this development significant: it shows that building a great electric sports car takes way more than straight-line speed. Anyone can make an EV quick. Making one feel alive and engaging to drive is harder. Hyundai cracked that code with a crossover that costs a fraction of what a Porsche runs. Now the most prestigious sports car brands in the world are studying what the Koreans did and adapting those lessons for their own models.
The Ioniq 5 N started as Hyundai’s attempt to prove they could build a serious performance EV. They succeeded so thoroughly that Porsche, Lamborghini, and BMW are taking notes. That goes way past impressive. It’s a complete shift in how the car industry thinks about electric performance and who the real innovators are.
