Hyundai may include ‘virtual’ gearbox in electric Ioniq 5 N

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An unexpected tangent of the electrification era in which we find ourselves is the penchant for some companies to engineer noise back into their vehicles — this, of course, after spending a lifetime chasing the holy trinity of noise, vibration, and harshness out of their wares in search of a silent cabin. The latest? Hyundai, which appears on the verge of introducing a virtual gearbox into its upcoming Ioniq 5 N hot hatchback.

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According to PR spin in the YoutTube video linked below, and expanded upon by an automotive outlet in Oz, Hyundai is working on gubbins which may mimic the sound and feel of a dual-clutch gearbox – complete with rev limiter and driveline rumble. The promo film calls the systems N Sound + and N e-Shift, items which intend to not just synchronize sound with movement but to also introduce vibrations and feedback into the equation. All of these things working together will, apparently, enhance the driving experience compared to simply adding fake noise piped through an audio speaker.

Here, have a listen. We’ve cued up the YouTube video to the proper timestamp for your auditory enjoyment.

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Or horror, as the case may be. As mentioned, car companies have traditionally spent years and untold dollars chasing these characteristics out of their vehicles in order to create an unobtrusive cabin experience. Now that EV powertrains have come along which, by their very nature, provide silent motoring, they’re flipping the script and re-adding the very things they worked so hard to eliminate during the internal-combustion era. The mind reels.

Of course, alert readers will rightly point out there is a vast yawning chasm of difference between the horrid metallic thrash of a low-tech four-banger from the ‘80s and a sonorous exhaust note from a properly tuned V8 supercar. Or, in this case, a rightly equipped hot hatch. Feedback and aural gratification are a huge part of the overall experience in some cars, so perhaps developing these types of systems isn’t so ridiculous after all — so long as they are applied appropriately. Witness the speed freaks at Dodge and their chambered exhaust on the Charger Daytona concept, for example. This system from Hyundai could be viewed through a similar lens.

The image at the top of this photo is a screengrab from a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance of the upcoming Ioniq 5 N at 5:77 in the YouTube video linked above. Expect the hot hatch SUV crossover to make the better part of 600 horsepower when it shows up next year.