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When a brand like Porsche openly raves about someone else’s car, you know that car does something special. That’s exactly what’s happening with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, a brutally fast electric vehicle that has apparently impressed Porsche enough to become the benchmark for the upcoming electric 718 Boxster and Cayman. Frank Moser, who is responsible for the 718 and 911 model ranges, described the Korean hot hatch as an eye-opening experience and admitted that Hyundai had done it “really, really well” after driving it several times at the Icons of Porsche event in Dubai.
A big part of what surprised Porsche is not just the straight-line speed, but also the way Hyundai leans into the theater. The Ioniq 5 N uses artificial drive noises and a system that mimics gear changes. Hyundai calls it N Active Sound+ and N e-Shift. Instead of rolling their eyes at the wrong speed, the Porsche engineers paid close attention. Moser has already confirmed that similar tricks will be available on the electric 718, complete with a simulated flat-six soundtrack and virtual upshifts that you can turn on or off depending on your mood.
Even Porsche’s toughest fuel watchdogs were convinced. Moser told how GT boss Andreas Preuninger didn’t want to know about “this electrical stuff” until he reluctantly got into the Ioniq 5 N for a drive. The car’s party piece is N Grin Boost, a red button on the steering wheel that unleashes the full power of its dual motors. For 10 seconds, power jumps to 641 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque, enough to propel the Hyundai to 60 mph in just over 3 seconds, assuming the battery is at a set state of charge. It’s the kind of over-the-top feature you’d expect from a concept car, but it’s built into a production Hyundai and now serves as a development target for Stuttgart.
So what does this mean for the next 718 Boxster and Cayman that will be electric in 2027? Porsche is tight-lipped on final figures, but Moser has promised a “really light car” by electric car standards, although he concedes the new models will inevitably be heavier than the outgoing 982 generation. If you want an indication of what Porsche considers acceptable, check out the Mission R concept, a Cayman-based electric race car that has an 82 kWh battery and still weighs around 3,306 pounds. This car has been stripped down for the track, so a road version will almost certainly weigh more, but it shows Porsche is obsessed with keeping mass under control as it brings its smallest sports car into the battery age.
Interestingly, the 718 story won’t just be an electric vehicle affair. Porsche has already confirmed that the next generation will also spawn high-performance combustion variants, the so-called top ICE derivatives, which are expected to retain a flat-six paired with hybrid technology derived from the new 911 GTS and turbo systems. In other words, future Boxster and Cayman buyers could choose between a true flat-six with electric assistance and a purely battery-powered car that pretends to shift gears while a digital flat-six soundtrack plays, both of which are partly inspired by a wild Korean electric vehicle. If nothing else, it proves that the performance arms race in the electric age is no longer just about range and charging curves, but about character, and Hyundai has just pushed Porsche to turn up the volume.
Sources: Automotive News
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Lloyd Tobias is an experienced automotive journalist and passionate enthusiast with over 15 years of experience in the world of cars. Whether it’s exploring the latest advancements in automotive technology or keeping abreast of breaking industry news, Lloyd brings a keen perspective and deep appreciation for all things automotive. In his texts he combines technical understanding with practical enthusiasm, making his contributions both informative and appealing to readers who share his love of driving. When he’s not behind the keyboard or under the hood, Lloyd enjoys test driving the latest models and staying one step ahead in an ever-evolving automotive landscape.
