The electric performance car landscape is shifting rapidly, and Hyundai N is determined to stay at the front of the pack. Having already shaken up the industry with the highly acclaimed IONIQ 5 N and the newly launched IONIQ 6 N super sedan, the South Korean automaker new candies for their high performande EVs thanks to a new platform. Critically, this doesn't signal a premature farewell to internal combustion engines (ICE) for the performance division; as we previously shared, Hyundai is currently finishing work on an all-new, high-output 2.5-liter Turbo hybrid powertrain to keep gas-powered performance alive. According to a report by Autocar, Hyundai’s sporting EVs have captured global attention not just for their raw speed, but for their commitment to driver engagement. Features like synthesized engine notes and virtual gearboxes have been so well-received that industry heavyweights like Porsche and Honda are now moving to emulate them.
Evolution Over Revolution: Enter the IMA Architecture
Hyundai’s current crop of high-performance EVs relies on the stellar E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform), which debuted in 2021. However, the brand is already deep into the development of its successor: the IMA (Integrated Modular Architecture) platform.
While E-GMP was a revolutionary leap forward for the brand, Manfred Harrer, Head of Global R&D for Hyundai, describes the shift to the IMA platform as a massive, calculated evolution.
"It's not a big step like the first introduction [E-GMP]," Harrer told Autocar. "But now we talk about incremental improvements on the thermal management, on the overall efficiency of the car, on the cost, on the integration. It's not a revolution like the first generation. It's a huge evolution."
Key Features of the Next-Gen IMA Platform:
Next-Generation 800V Technology: Optimizing already impressive charging times for even faster top-ups.
Fifth-Generation Battery Technology: Bringing superior thermal management, enhanced packaging efficiency, and reduced production costs.
Tailored for "Enhanced N Cars": Engineered specifically to support high-performance outputs and sharper dynamic handling.
Given that the IONIQ 5 was the trailblazer for the E-GMP platform and is due for a replacement around 2028, the automotive world expects the first IMA-based performance cars to break cover around that time.
Taking Virtual Gearshifts and Sound to the Next Level
Hyundai N has always prioritized pure driving fun over chasing sterile lap times or paper-spec supremacy. A cornerstone of this philosophy is the virtual gearshift function (N e-Shift) and N Active Sound+ systems found in the IONIQ 5 N and IONIQ 6 N.
Instead of resting on its laurels, Hyundai intends to push the boundaries of what an EV can communicate to its driver.
What to Expect from Future Hyundai N EVs:
Simulated Engine Idling: Mimicking the palpable anticipation of a combustion engine at a standstill.
Exhaust Backfiring: Recreating the pops, bangs, and crackles that performance enthusiasts love.
Physical Cabin Vibrations: Introducing tactile feedback through the chassis to further blur the line between EV and ICE 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."
Embracing the Fun: "We Are Not the Serious Porsche Guys"
While purists initially dismissed synthetic shifts and exhaust notes as gimmicks, the real-world reception of the IONIQ N lineup has been overwhelmingly positive, even bagging prestigious accolades like World Performance Car awards. Hyundai’s philosophy embraces this playful spirit completely.
"There are so many ideas how you can advance it further, but this is all about experience," Harrer noted. "A lot of people say it's fake, but people like it so there is some beauty – and why not play around with it? 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."
By doubling down on emotion, tactile feedback, and driver connection, Hyundai is proving that the electric future doesn't have to be sterile. Thanks to the upcoming IMA architecture, the next generation of Hyundai N cars promises to deliver an even more visceral, realistic driving
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