[epirali]

First and foremost: it is shame than another early adopter is leaving the fold, and good luck with Hyundai. I hope it evolves into more than just a toy. The I-Pace was, and still is in my mind, an excellent blend of engineering and style.

However, back to the issue of artificial noise makers. I'm not sure that "driving engagement" plays much of a part in the so called EV bias. The bigger issues are "head in sand" refusal to accept change, and price. There will always be a few folks at the top and the bottom of the economic pyramid that favor esoteric factors such as "driving engagement" and noise, but the vast majority of "drivers" just need a cheap reliable means of getting from A to B.

"Tricks" add complexity and price and pamper to the few rather than addressing the real issues of the majority. Put a $30k EV on the market with real 300mile range and address charging infrastructure issues and adoption will become less of a problem for the masses. Meanwhile the gearheads of this world can keep their manual transmission V8 muscle cars for the "experience" since the number of owners, miles driven (and pollution) would be minimal.

I am in agreement with most of what you are saying. In this case the "tricks" cost nothing in production, they are simply using the speakers, the regen motors and emulation. But I assure you it's not a toy, the 5N is a seriously capable drivers car AND is an EV. So I think there is some misunderstanding here. Never turn on the fake stuff, the car can handle and do things that are seriously impressive as a driver (including controlled drifts).

As for affordable EVs yes for transport that is the trick. But if you are not in the US there are already many many very good choices (including fun ones like the new Renault 5). So this issue is mostly a US one.

 

[Snowflake]

Have you tried it or is this theoretical sadness? Because I have multiple high performance EVs and high performance track ICE cars, so my appreciation comes from a place of experience with both. It is an engineering marvel to emulate the mechanical kick and dynamics of gear shifting and rev limiting and rev matching so well.

And as one driver reviewer noted it gives you a reference around a track for gear/speed combination in a way that just sound does not.

The Jaguar and the i4 have fake sounds. The first thing I did when I got them was turn the **** thing off.

I have driven several high performance cars on a few different tracks and the i5 on a short track. In now way do I particularly want the engine sounds when driving fast. The engine sounds of course matter when driving ICE on track, to know when to shift without looking at the tach, for instance. However, none of that matters or is helpful with an EV, which has all its torque available almost all the time. To me, it's a weird sound fetish. I don't get it.

As much as I love Rendez-vouz in Paris, every time I watch, I think about how the engine sound is dubbed. Drives me nuts.

 

[epirali]

The Jaguar and the i4 have fake sounds. The first thing I did when I got them was turn the **** thing off.

I have driven several high performance cars on a few different tracks and the i5 on a short track. In now way do I particularly want the engine sounds when driving fast. The engine sounds of course matter when driving ICE on track, to know when to shift without looking at the tach, for instance. However, none of that matters or is helpful with an EV, which has all its torque available almost all the time. To me, it's a weird sound fetish. I don't get it.

As much as I love Rendez-vouz in Paris, every time I watch, I think about how the engine sound is dubbed. Drives me nuts.

I appreciate what you are saying and I am not interested in the sound either (except for the continues clever multi tone the Taycan had that directly correlated to your speed you didn't have to look). But what I like about N5 is not the sound, but the incredibly well down physical emulation of gear shifts and bouncing off the rev limiter. Yes its gimmicks but I still like the fact that they spent time and effort to create a realistic physical "shift" sensation. But that's me.

As for gear/speed on a track I can completely see using the gear/sound combo like all do for all my other cars to position and plan my entry/exit. I won't do it all the time, but while I am learning the car and the track it is a good reference.

 

[Rhetaipace]

300 mile range EVs for 30K are well and truly available. Just not in the USA due to tariffs and I assume the US auto industry not being able to compete unfortunately

 

[Qtown charger]

300 mile range EVs for 30K are well and truly available. Just not in the USA due to tariffs and I assume the US auto industry not being able to compete unfortunately

Agreed. I'm fully aware that much of the world has access to EV's that cater to the masses, which is partially why this so called "EV bias" doesn't exist to the same extent in these regions.

But, that said, the so called "EV bias" here in the US would quickly dissipate if such vehicles were available. Whether this situation is due to politics, cultural philosophy or protection of existing commercial operations is a different issue that having artificial noise makers will not alter.

Bottomline: Such features are gimmicks that the majority of drivers really do not need or want - unless you hit the race track regularly.

 

[Qtown charger]

.... Yes its gimmicks but I still like the fact that they spent time and effort to create a realistic physical "shift" sensation. But that's me.

As for gear/speed on a track I can completely see using the gear/sound combo like all do for all my other cars to position and plan my entry/exit. I won't do it all the time, but while I am learning the car and the track it is a good reference.

"time and effort" equates to $$$. Agreed it may help your very uncommon usage on the track, but this is still misplaced effort and expense.

 

[epirali]

"time and effort" equates to $$$. Agreed it may help your very uncommon usage on the track, but this is still misplaced effort and expense.

I hear what you are saying, I respectfully disagree. Sometimes a little showmanship and tech whizbang paves the way and gets attention. I will point to the original Tesla Roadster built from Lotus Elises. It was not a car for the masses (nor really a car more a demo/kit car), but it definitely got Elon Musks attention among others and the rest is history.

I am already seeing very interesting reactions from my friends who have an EV bias. The gimmick suddenly makes them open their mind a little bit. I think for Hyundai the Ioniq 5N is there to open the door to Kona, Ioniq and Ioniq 5, the same way the R8 was a way for Audi to get people into A3 and A4.

BTW Kona is a $30k, 260 mile range EV.

 

[ryzvy]

@epirali You know that you will never get the last word in on this (or any) forum, right? 😂

 

[epirali]

Not trying to, I actually am appreciating the discussion. There are good points being raised, its not about getting the last word.

This has been one of the rarer car forums where I have learned a lot, people have civil and thought out discussions (most of the time). This is part of what I will miss about my car, the community. I have NO PLANS on joining an Ioniq 5N forum (the same way I don't join Porsche, Lamborghini, etc etc).

P.S. I just listed the JLR rubber floor mats and trunk liner as a give away in the for sale area if anyone is interested.

 

[Qtown charger]

I hear what you are saying, I respectfully disagree. Sometimes a little showmanship and tech whizbang paves the way and gets attention. I will point to the original Tesla Roadster built from Lotus Elises. It was not a car for the masses (nor really a car more a demo/kit car), but it definitely got Elon Musks attention among others and the rest is history.

I am already seeing very interesting reactions from my friends who have an EV bias. The gimmick suddenly makes them open their mind a little bit. I think for Hyundai the Ioniq 5N is there to open the door to Kona, Ioniq and Ioniq 5, the same way the R8 was a way for Audi to get people into A3 and A4.

BTW Kona is a $30k, 260 mile range EV.

We all came to this forum and I-Pace ownership from differing backgrounds, and I'm sure those perspectives flavor our current thinking. That is what keeps my interest in this forum eventhough there is not much "new" regarding the car itself.

You're correct that the Roadster got attention and enabled a company to get established with two higher end models (X and S) and selling tax credits. This enabled the fledgling company to run at major losses for many years before the 3 and the Y were ready for a mass market.

Now that EV's are "established", the market I'm wishing manufacturers would address is that exemplified by my neighbor - 40ish lady commutes 20miles each day 5 days a week, runs errands around town at the weekend, significant other drives a full size truck. Currently she's running a newish Honda Civic.

If we can get the millions of these off the road, the scale favor for battery manufacturing will kick in and the bigger ICE powered trucks and cars can be challenged with equivalent cost and range EV's. I'm not sure the economics work the other way around without selling manufacturers' tax credits .

 

[Snowflake]

P.S. I just listed the JLR rubber floor mats and trunk liner as a give away in the for sale area if anyone is interested.

I eventually took a measuring tape and scissors to my I-Pace trunk liner and put it into my i4. It won't catch much in the way liquids, but its better than just absorbing everything with the carpet, and they have the same depth to the rear seat-backs.

 

[epirali]

And I hate to say this but the low end of the Chinese EV market is perfect for this scenario. My partner was looking in London (ended up with used i3) but there was a Chinese $18k stripped EV with 150 mile range.Very basic but very functional.