07:45 26-11-2025

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N becomes a benchmark for Porsche 718 EV, Lamborghini and BMW M

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N keeps upending expectations: Porsche has now officially acknowledged that the electric hot hatch served as a reference point for the development of future 718 EV models. Frank Moser, who heads the 718 and 911 lines, said that after several runs in the Ioniq 5 N, the team had to rethink a lot. Even GT boss Andreas Preuninger, initially skeptical about electrification, changed his view after trying the N Grin Boost mode. For a brand that rarely looks outward for inspiration, that kind of admission speaks volumes.

Porsche is currently testing virtual gears and a synthetic boxer-like soundtrack as an option for the new electric 718. Buyers will be able to choose either near-silence or an imitation of a classic combustion engine’s character—an interesting way to let drivers tailor the experience without compromising the EV’s core qualities.

Hyundai’s approach is drawing attention elsewhere, too. Lamborghini is using the Ioniq 5 N as a benchmark while tuning the forthcoming Lanzador, and BMW M is once again considering virtual shifting for its EVs, noting how it helps on the track. When brands known for purist performance start revisiting these ideas, it signals a broader change in what counts as engagement behind the wheel.

The Ioniq 5 N, never designed to curry favor with premium badges, has unexpectedly become a yardstick for driver involvement in the EV world, shaping strategies at companies that long dismissed what they called “electric theatricality.” It’s a reminder that enjoyment and emotion still matter—regardless of what’s under the hood, or in this case, under the floor.