Porsche engineers are not exactly easy to impress. These are the people who spend their days perfecting GT3s and wringing every last drop of magic from flat-six engines and setting Nurburgring lap records.

So when two of the brand’s most senior engineering bosses drove the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and came away buzzing like teenagers leaving an arcade, you know something interesting is happening in the electric-car world.

Also: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Gets A Cheaper Version But You Can’t Have It

Frank Moser, Porsche’s vice president in charge of the 718 and 911 lines, admitted to Australia’s Drive that he has driven the Ioniq 5 N “several times” and called it an “eye-opening” experience.

Moser even dragged along Andreas Preuninger, the legendary head of Porsche GT cars, whose blood type is probably 98 RON premium, and definitely not amps.

From Skeptic to Convert?

Preuninger was not exactly enthusiastic at first. According to Moser, he grumbled, “I don’t want any of that electric stuff” when the idea was floated. But once they climbed inside and Moser pressed the Hyundai’s N Grin Boost button, the GT boss instantly turned into a believer.

“He was ‘wow’” Moser said, describing the moment Hyundai’s punchiest EV unleashed its full 641 hp ( 650 PS / 478 kW) and 568 lb-ft (770 Nm). “We learnt a lot from that car,” Moser told Australia’s Drive. “That’s why we decided to have a deeper look.”

It was not just the acceleration that snagged Porsche’s attention. The Ioniq 5 N’s signature party tricks, including its virtual gearshifts and synthesized powertrain noises, have Porsche seriously considering similar features for its upcoming electric 718 sports car.

Can Sound Create Soul?

Hyundai calls these systems N e-shift and N Active Sound+, and they replicate the snap of a dual-clutch gearbox and offer a selection of digital engine noises (most of them pretty lame, in my experience).

It is the kind of thing EV purists roll their eyes at, but performance engineers instantly understand. It makes the car feel alive and the driver connected to the driving experience.

“This is the way,” Moser said of the synthesized features, while making clear that Porsche wouldn’t force them on drivers.

“The customer could decide if he wants to drive in complete silent mode, or he wants to be part of the game, feeling the virtual sounds of a flat six and the virtual gear shifts,” Moser said. “That would be the direction for the future.”

Tuning the Future

Our money’s on it being part of a Sport Chrono-type option package that’ll add at least $2,000 to the bill of the new electric Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman.

The first 718 EV arrives in early 2027, and Moser promises it will be “really lightweight for an electric car,” though he declined to reveal an exact or even ballpark weight figure.

One thing is clear: Hyundai has just influenced one of the world’s most respected sports-car makers. Who could have imagined that happening 20 years ago?

Porsche has used their third quarter earnings call to reveal time is almost up for three different vehicles including the current gas-powered Macan. This is worth noting as the crossover is the brand’s most popular vehicle as 64,783 units have been delivered in the first nine months of the year.

During the call, Finance and IT Board Member Dr. Jochen Breckner said the current internal combustion Macan will continue production “well into 2026,” and that it will remain on sale throughout that year, “and in some markets even in 2027 based on final stocking that we will do.”]

Breckner clarified that the exact production end date hasn’t been determined, though it’s expected to occur “more or less in the middle of 2026.” He added, “As I’ve said, customers will get their cars also throughout 2026 and some even in 2027.”

More: This Audi Q5 Could Actually Be The New ICE Porsche Macan

It appears that the company will stockpile vehicles in important markets to help buy time until the redesigned crossover arrives. Speaking of which, the second-generation Macan will be offered with conventional and plug-in hybrid powertrains. They will be sold alongside the current Macan Electric.

Previous reports have suggested the upcoming model will be based on the Audi Q5 and spy photographers caught an early development prototype being tested by Porsche earlier this year.

The move makes sense as the brand is throttling back their EV push as part of a product realignment that will see “additional models featuring combustion and plug-in-hybrid powertrains.”

As Breckner noted, “Starting in 2028, a more balanced drivetrain offering will further strengthen our market position and support sustainable long-term growth.”

This effort will be supported by ICE-powered versions of the redesigned 718 as well as the next Macan, which is apparently being referred to as the “B-SUV.” Furthermore, Porsche’s flagship SUV has abandoned electric power and will instead offer gas and plug-in hybrid options.

Getting back to the 718, the current Boxster and Cayman are quickly approaching the end of the line. Production wraps up later this month and Breckner said “we are producing the very last cars these days.”

However, the automaker will still have a handful of models in inventory to help tide things over until the next-generation sports car arrives.

Porsche Is Having A Terrible Year

As for the financials, they weren’t pretty despite record deliveries in the United States. Through the first nine months of the year, Porsche’s operating profit plummeted from over €4 ($4.6) billion in 2025 to a mere €40 ($46) million this time around.

The company blamed the massive drop on a variety of factors including their product realignment strategy, challenging market conditions in China, and “one-off effects” relating to battery activities. Tariffs also played a role and it sounds like they’ll cost the company around €700 ($814) million this year alone.

To help offset the impact of tariffs, Porsche will “further strengthen” their pricing position throughout 2025 and 2026. The company has also increased prices to keep their margins at a “decent level.”

Despite the grim headline numbers, Porsche highlighted that automotive net cash flow increased from €1.24 billion ($1.44 billion) to €1.34 billion ($1.56 billion). The company said this “demonstrates the resilience of the business operations and shows that Porsche is performing robustly even under challenging conditions.”

Porsche Q3 Overview