Soon the Honda Super-One, BMW M3 Electric, and Porsche EVs will follow a trend started by Hyundai's Ioniq 5 N.
Electric Cars
Hyundai’s simulated shifter stirred controversy when it first debuted in 2023 with the Ioniq 5 N, but now the South Korean brand is “proud” to see more brands recognise the potential for fun in the technology.
Emulating an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission in the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 N models, the ‘fake’ shift feature comes complete with artificial engine sounds, rev limiter, and gearbox shunt when changing gears.
Designed to keep electric vehicles (EVs) fun-to-drive and emotionally engaging, this feature is now being adopted by more and more manufacturers such as Porsche, Honda, BMW, and Lexus.
Speaking to Drive at the Nurburgring 24-Hour race, Hyundai N boss Joon Woo Park said the technology was born from wanting to build the most driver-focused EV yet.
“When we actually developed the Ioniq 5 N and 6 N, our aim was very simple: to set the standard of EV performance because we started late [in performance-car development] to other brands – and we respect those brands,” Park said.
“For ICE [internal combustion engine], we were late, but in terms of EV, we believe we can do better [than the current competition].
“And that’s one of the reasons that when we first started, we set a strategy to set a new standard of EV performance – and that worked, and that worked really well.
“It’s all based on love of cars because we love cars, we love motorsport, we love drifting, and we love track driving.”
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Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
