You read the title of this article correctly: Porsche will indeed take notes from Hyundai on electric performance. If a well-meaning individual had declared this 40 years ago, back when people here were scrambling to buy Hyundai Ponys, they would have been treated for mental disorders.
Porsche will draw inspiration from the Ioniq 5 N for its electric Boxster and Cayman
BMW and Lamborghini were also impressed by the machine
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 N is likely to floor them even more
It’s incredible to see how much things have evolved since then.
And in what context did Porsche express itself this way? Read on, it’s quite something.
Porsche Tests the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
What happened is that Frank Moser, head of the 718 and 911 lineups at Porsche, got behind the wheel of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. He came away thrilled. In response to Australian media questioning him about this at the Icons of Porsche festival, he said: “We learned a lot from it. I drove it several times. They really designed it very well.”
Better yet, Frank Moser invited the head of Porsche’s GT division, Andreas Preuninger, to take a ride in the Ioniq 5 N. The latter wasn’t interested at first, but he sang a different tune when Frank Moser pressed the Korean machine’s N Grin Boost button.
Specifically, Porsche states that its experience with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N has changed how it envisions designing an electric car, especially regarding driver engagement. Hyundai’s work will influence how Porsche builds future electric sports cars.
It’s a topsy-turvy world.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Since its debut in 2024, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N has received nothing but praise. The work done on this vehicle is flawless. The performance level is obviously the model’s main calling card, with 641 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque (using Boost mode).
But it’s more than that. It’s the engineering. It’s how the simulated gear shifts enhance the experience. And then there are those sounds that replicate rev climbs, they’re more convincing than what the average manufacturer offers, let’s put it that way. Its balance, both on the road and on the track, must be cited as a reference.
In short, Hyundai nailed it.
First Drive of the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 6 N: The New South Korean Missile, Anything but Stealthy
Interest Elsewhere
Other brands have been impressed by the Korean manufacturer’s beast. This is notably the case with Lamborghini, which tested it. Its CEO, Stephan Winkelmann, wasn’t convinced by the electronic sounds, but he was fascinated by the driving sensations the model delivers.
At BMW, they acknowledged that the sounds provide the driver with a good indication of speed, without needing to look at the cluster, as in a gasoline-powered vehicle.
In short, others are taking notes.
The irony is that one of the fathers of Hyundai’s N division is Albert Biermann, a former BMW engineer who worked on the previous-generation M5. Though retired, he was consulted during the development of the Ioniq 5 N.
At Porsche
As for Porsche, Frank Moser confirmed that the company is studying virtual sounds and simulated gear shifts for the upcoming electric 718. The driver will have the option to drive in stealth mode or with the sensation of having a flat-six engine still behind them.
The driving sensation will be a major focus for the model. For Porsche, everything comes down to that, and if a future electric Boxster doesn’t deliver on this front, the traditional buyer will be hard to convince.
