When a brand like Porsche openly gushes about someone else’s car, you know that car is doing something special. That is exactly what is happening with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, a brutally quick EV that has apparently impressed Porsche enough to become a benchmark for the upcoming electric 718 Boxster and Cayman. Frank Moser, who oversees both the 718 and 911 model lines, called the Korean hot hatch an eye-opening experience and admitted that Hyundai “made it really, really good” 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 the way Hyundai leans into theater. The Ioniq 5 N uses artificial powertrain sound and a system that mimics gearshifts, features Hyundai calls N Active Sound+ and N e-Shift. Instead of rolling their eyes at the fake revs, Porsche engineers paid close attention. Moser has already confirmed that similar tricks are coming to the electric 718, complete with a simulated flat six soundtrack and virtual upshifts that you will be able to switch on or off depending on your mood.
Even Porsche’s hardest-core gasoline guardians have been won over. Moser recounted how GT boss Andreas Preuninger wanted nothing to do with “that electric stuff” until he reluctantly climbed into the Ioniq 5 N for a ride. The car’s party piece is N Grin Boost, a red button on the steering wheel that unleashes the full violence of its dual motors. For 10 seconds, output jumps to 641 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque, enough to shove the Hyundai to 60 mph in a little over 3 seconds, provided the battery is above a set state of charge. It is the kind of over-the-top feature you would expect on a concept car, yet it is in a production Hyundai and now serving as a development target for Stuttgart.
So what does that mean for the next 718 Boxster and Cayman that are going electric in 2027? Porsche is staying quiet on final numbers, but Moser has promised a “really lightweight car” by EV standards, even while acknowledging that the new models will inevitably be heavier than the outgoing 982 generation. If you want a hint at what Porsche thinks is acceptable, look at the Mission R concept, a Cayman-based electric racer that packed an 82 kWh battery and still came in around 3,306 pounds. That car was stripped to the essentials for the track, so a road-going version will almost certainly weigh more, but it shows that Porsche is obsessed with keeping mass in check as it moves its smallest sports car into the battery age.
Interestingly, the 718 story will not be an EV-only 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 tech derived from the new 911 GTS and Turbo systems. In other words, future Boxster and Cayman buyers may be choosing between a real flat six with electric assist and a battery-only car that pretends to shift gears while playing a digital flat six soundtrack, both inspired in part by a wild Korean EV. If nothing else, it proves that the performance arms race in the electric era is not just about range and charging curves anymore, it is about character, and Hyundai just pushed Porsche to turn the volume up.
Sources: Automotive News
Lloyd Tobias is a seasoned automotive journalist and passionate enthusiast with over 15 years of experience immersed in the world of cars. Whether it’s exploring the latest advancements in automotive technology or keeping a close pulse on breaking industry news, Lloyd brings a sharp perspective and a deep appreciation for all things automotive. His writing blends technical insight with real-world enthusiasm, making his contributions both informative and engaging for readers who share his love for the drive. When he’s not behind the keyboard or under the hood, Lloyd enjoys test driving the newest models and staying ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving automotive landscape.
