Is Lamborghini Looking to the Koreans for Electric Vehicle Insights?

Recently, a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N was spotted leaving Lamborghini’s headquarters. That fuelled speculation that the luxury car brand is taking notes from a mass-market nameplate.

Automotive enthusiasts often gather outside Lamborghini’s production facility in Sant’Agata Bolognese. They hope to catch glimpses of camouflaged prototypes and high-performance supercars coming and going. 

Typically, 12-, 10-, and eight-cylinder powered machines are sighted leaving the secure facility. However, Italian car enthusiast Varryx was visibly perplexed to see a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N in Performance Blue drive out of the complex.

Throughout the nearly half-hour-long video, the Ioniq 5 N can be seen leaving and re-entering the site which is normally frequented by Lamborghini test mules.

Read our 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N review

While the real reason behind the sighting of the Hyundai in the facility is unknown, the Italian may be using the model as a benchmark for its EV research.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, which debuted in 2023, features a dual-motor setup. It produces 478kW, and is the fastest machine that Hyundai has ever produced. 

The model has also garnered significant attention for its dynamic handling and performance-focused features, marking a leap forward for Hyundai in the EV market.

Lamborghini’s apparent interest in the Ioniq 5 N is likely tied to its development of the Lanzador. That would be the brand’s first fully electric model, expected to launch in 2029.

Unveiled in concept form in 2023, the Lanzador is projected to deliver up to 1000 kW.

Lamborghini’s engineers may be studying the Ioniq 5 N’s powertrain, chassis tuning, and software integration. Those are areas where Korean auto companies like Hyundai have demonstrated strong expertise.