Hyundai's president of R&D said that the next generation of electric N cars will be even more realistic and better at faking it. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N already belts out a series of pops and bangs akin to a Looney Tunes soundboard, with fake engine noises that rise and fall with the car's simulated rev limiter.
But Hyundai's future N-branded EVs could be even better at mimicking their gas-powered counterparts, according to a new report by Autocar. That's not to say they won't be just as silly and fun, Manfred Harrer, Hyundai's global head of research and development, reportedly explained.
View Price on AmazonThe executive's comments came during a conversation about the next generation of the N division's electric cars. "We are leading—we are not following—on this technology," Harrer told Autocar. "In the next generation of these cars, I want to make it even more realistic. I want to enhance it further."
While he declined to nail down the specifics of exactly how the N division is planning to enhance the experience, Harrer did suggest a few examples of changes. According to the report, the executive brought up idling, backfiring exhausts, and vibrations in the car as potential characteristics that would improve engagement.
"There are so many ideas on how you can advance it further, but this is all about experience," Harrer said. "A lot of people say it's fake, but people like it, so there is some beauty—and why not play around with it?" Harrer explained that the team behind Hyundai's N subbrand is more focused on drivers having fun than outright racetrack pace.
"We are not the serious Porsche guys. We are fun to drive. We made a great movement, and over the years we will enhance it—and the next platform gets this. The demos are already running."
Source: caranddriver.com
