Advanced Driving Hub

Strangely Brown wrote:I can think of one or two cars I have driven where that would be barely noticeable.

Another Bill wrote:I’ve never actually ever driven a non-synchromesh gearbox

Horse wrote:https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/hyundai/ioniq-5-n-electric-hatchback-2023/478kw-84-kwh-5dr-auto/first-drive

What makes it unique, then?

Hyundai has thrown the kitchen sink at the electronics to make it not just rapid, but engaging to drive in new and interesting ways we hadn’t previously thought possible. You can dive into the menus and make it sound like a zingy combustion engine, or a fighter jet, or a lightsaber. Weirdly, it’s the fake petrol engine sounds that work the best, largely because of another mode – N e-Shift.

This is a fully simulated eight-speed paddle shift gearbox that does everything a real one does – like manage the torque so you feel acceleration build as you rev towards the imaginary 8,000rpm redline. It will bounce off the limiter if you forget to pull the paddle, interrupt the torque with a little kick on upshifts and a little blip on the way down, the sound instantly reflects throttle position, revs and what ‘gear’ you’re in.

It all sounds horribly artificial on paper, but the shocker is… it works brilliantly and feels natural to the point you forget you’re interacting with software, not explosions and cogs. My highest praise? For a fast lap at the Gotlandring, our venue for Speed Week 2023, it was more fun to leave the e-Shift on.