Porsche Praises the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N: The Electric Car Inspiring the New 718

The German brand admits that the radical Korean EV has set the benchmark for the upcoming electric Boxster and Cayman.

The automotive industry is undergoing a historic shift, and surprisingly, one of Porsche’s key references hasn’t come from Germany but from Hyundai. Its IONIQ 5 N, already considered one of the most exhilarating electric cars on sale, has become the blueprint for Porsche as it develops the upcoming 718 Boxster and Cayman EVs, models expected to arrive in early 2027 while preserving the brand’s unmistakable sporting DNA.

The IONIQ 5 N: The EV That Changed Porsche’s Perspective

In an interview with Australia’s Drive magazine, Frank Moser, Vice President for the 718 and 911 product lines, revealed that driving the Hyundai was a “revelation.” He highlighted that the Korean engineers “did a really good job,” especially with the N Active Sound+ and N e-shift systems, which generate artificial engine sounds and simulated gear shifts. Porsche will adopt similar features in the electric 718s, although drivers will be able to switch them on or off, even recreating the signature melody of a flat-six engine.

Beyond sound, the IONIQ 5 N impressed with its savage N Grin Boost mode, activated via a red button on the steering wheel. It unleashes 650 hp for 10 seconds, provided the battery is above 30% charge. This allows the Hyundai to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, figures that astonished even Andreas Preuninger, Porsche’s GT Vehicle Project Manager, who initially refused to go anywhere near an electric car.

Meanwhile, Porsche continues refining its upcoming Boxster and Cayman EVs, which will inevitably be heavier than today’s models. Still, Moser promises they will remain “truly lightweight cars” for vehicles carrying large battery packs. And in a twist, they will no longer be exclusively electric: the most exclusive variants will keep the flat-six combustion engine, likely using T-Hybrid mild-hybrid technology similar to the 911 GTS, earning an Eco emissions label.

In short, Porsche openly acknowledges that Hyundai has raised the bar for how an electric sports car should feel. And if a brand as obsessively focused on driving as Porsche uses the IONIQ 5 N as a benchmark, it’s because the Korean EV has exceeded expectations in ways few could have predicted.