Future Porsche EVs May Get Hyundai-Style Simulated Manual Gearboxes For Extra Driver Engagement
Future Porsche EVs May Get Hyundai-Style Simulated Manual Gearboxes For Extra Driver Engagement
Andre NalinSat, May 9, 2026 at 5:00 PM UTC
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Image Credit: Porsche
Porsche may eventually borrow an idea from Hyundai as it looks for ways to make future electric sports cars feel more exciting from behind the wheel.
Andreas Preuninger, head of Porsche’s GT division, told Autocar that Hyundai’s simulated gearbox system in the Ioniq 5 N left a strong impression on him.
The system mimics a combustion engine’s rev range and gear changes, using steering-wheel paddles, artificial shift behavior, and synthesized engine sound to create a more traditional performance-car experience.
For Porsche, that kind of technology could help solve one of the biggest challenges facing electric sports cars: how to make instant, silent acceleration feel emotionally involving rather than clinical.
Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N Made An Impression
Image Credit: Hyundai.
Preuninger told Autocar that the Ioniq 5 N’s simulated gearbox was “very impressive” and one of his biggest takeaways after driving the high-performance EV.
Hyundai’s system does not use a real multi-speed transmission. Instead, software alters power delivery to mimic gear ratios, rev build-up, and shift points.
Drivers can use paddles behind the steering wheel as though they were changing gears in a gasoline-powered performance car. Artificial engine sounds are also played through the cabin to reinforce the illusion.
It is not mechanically necessary, but it gives drivers something to interact with beyond simple throttle and brake inputs.
Porsche Wants EVs To Feel Fun
Porsche has already proven it can build fast electric vehicles with the Taycan. The bigger question is how future electric Boxster, Cayman, and GT-style models will preserve the brand’s driver-focused character.
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Preuninger suggested that combining a simulated gearbox with Porsche’s steering precision and brake pedal feel could create a more engaging electric sports car.
That's important because Porsche’s GT models have always been about feedback, control, and involvement, not just acceleration numbers.
A simulated gearbox would not replace the mechanical magic of a flat-six and manual transmission, but it could give future EVs a more layered driving experience.
Not Every Brand Agrees
The idea remains controversial. Some enthusiasts see simulated shifts and fake engine sounds as playful and immersive, while others consider them artificial gimmicks.
Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann recently took the opposite view, saying his brand is not interested in features that feel unreal.
Porsche appears more open-minded, at least within its GT division. Preuninger said internal discussions about driving engagement are constant and often intense, which suggests the company is actively exploring multiple ways to make EVs feel less detached.
Electric Performance Needs A New Personality
Image Credit: Porsche.
Performance EVs are already brutally quick, but speed alone is not enough for brands built on driver emotion. Without sound, shifting, vibration, and rising engine speed, many EVs can feel distant even when they are objectively rapid.
That is why Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N has attracted so much attention. It proves that software can add personality without pretending the car is something it is not.
For Porsche, the challenge will be doing it with enough polish and authenticity to satisfy one of the most demanding enthusiast audiences in the world.
Future Porsche EVs may never feel exactly like the company’s best gasoline-powered GT cars, but a convincing simulated gearbox could still help them feel like proper Porsches.
Source: “AOL Money”
