The Hyundai IONIQ 5 N is apparently so darn good that Lamborghini was supposedly caught benchmarking one during a test run. Our friends at CarBuzz stumbled upon a video from Italian-based car spotter and YouTuber, Varryx, who frequently hangs outside Lamborghini’s R&D facility in Sant’Agata Bolognese. There, he caught a well-used Hyundai IONIQ 5 N exiting and entering the facility’s south gate, which appears to be one of the main entrances to Lamborghini’s test facility at its home base.
Throughout the nearly half-hour-long video, Lamborghinis of all sorts can be seen entering and exiting through the “Porta Sud.” Many of those Lambos looked like research and developmental test mules, as quite a few of them were wrapped in the usual industry-common camouflage. But Varryx raised his eyebrows after seeing an IONIQ 5 N leave and reenter the facility normally frequented by Lamborghini test mules. Although the true reason for the oddball sighting is unknown, it suggests that the Italian company may have been using one as a benchmark for some of its electric vehicle research.
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 N Is So Good, Lamborghini Could Be Benchmarking One
It’s no mystery that the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N is quite an impressive automobile. Not only is it an insanely fast electric vehicle, but it proved that full-fledged performance EVs can exist, similarly to a BMW M or Mercedes-AMG car. Yes, electric vehicles like some hi-po Teslas and the Porsche Taycan long ago proved that they can be fast in a straight line. However, none of them truly offered the full high-performance package, including sport-tuned suspension, chassis, brakes, steering, and body kit. The IONIQ 5 N changed that.
That said, the IONIQ 5 N is so damn good, speculation suggests that Lamborghini’s engineers could be using one as a yardstick. Knowing that the famous Albert Biermann serves as a key influence on Hyundai’s R&D team, one of the greatest chassis and suspension engineers of all time who almost single-handedly made BMW’s M performance division famous for its iconic performance cars, reinforces this possibility. We can also thoroughly see why Lamborghini would be using the IONIQ 5 N as a reference point from how vividly it impressed us after hooning it at Laguna Seca Raceway and during our normal week-long test periods last year.
Lamborghini Isn’t Going Full-Speed With EVs…Yet…
Lamborghini’s been known to be dragging its feet with its electrification transition as the company prides itself on internal combustion power as one of its primary signatures. It knows that a Lamborghini isn’t a true Lamborghini without the seductive engine and exhaust notes from its legendary ICE engines, especially its V-8, late V-10, and current V-12 units. And taking those away in favor of noiseless electric motors is like taking the sun away from a summer holiday—what would be the point?
However, Lamborghini also knows that it can’t completely cold-shoulder electrification initiatives. That’s because governmental bodies continue mandating stricter emissions and fuel economy compliance regulations for future new vehicles, all in the slow and gradual push towards eliminating ICE-powered vehicles.
Additionally, because Lamborghini cannot financially survive as a low-volume automaker, it still needs to make some cars that appeal to a broader audience. Without some sort of volume-driven seller, the company’s financial future wouldn’t be sustainable, even with the help of a big corporate parent like Volkswagen AG.
Whether ICE engines will truly be outlawed in the future completely still has yet to be determined. But some are waging that EVs could be best reserced for those seeking commuter and dependable daily-drivers, while ICE-powered cars could be left as a recreational or luxury items. Given how most Lamborghinis are considered weekend fun cars, there’s a chance that Lambo’s just might be able to stick to ICE power.
Source: Varryx on YouTube via CarBuzz
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