The RN24 is Hyundai’s very drifty vision of future performance cars
Ioniq 5 N power meets a WRC-inspired chassis… with smokey results
This, folks, is the RN24. It follows in the burnouts of the RN22e super-saloon and hydrogen-powered N Vision 74 concept from a couple of years back, and it amounts to Hyundai’s latest thought experiment. That thought being ‘how can we make the future very fast and very drifty?’
Fortuitously, Hyundai has two key ingredients up its sleeve: the powertrain and electronics from the stupendously rapid Ioniq 5 N, and oodles of rallying know-how hewn from the WRC.
And so we arrive at… this. Harnessing the same 641bhp of the dual-motor 5 N and a chassis built upon WRC expertise, Hyundai has found a way to shorten the wheelbase (while retaining the 84kWh battery) by a measure of 340mm compared to its hot hatch parent. Thus making it akin to the i20 N Rally 1 Hybrid in stature.
Combined with ‘next-gen’ software, the name of the game here is agility; to fix the most powerful powertrain into the smallest possible package. And much tyre-shredding, judging by the pictures.
Other rally-derived components include the suspension, dampers, and drive control logic system: this allows for adjustment of the power, power balance, acceleration, regen. All configurable via the steering wheel, of course. Though you might need to slow down a bit for that as the steering wheel has been made more sensitive. I.e. quicker.
Cooling modifications have been made to keep the battery and motor temperature in check, and along with the high-rigidity subframes you can’t have missed the roll cage is completely exposed, giving the RN24 an exoskeleton to rival the Ariel Nomad 2. Ish. Guessing that's good for cooling too?
There is Rally Mode torque control. There’s an e-Handbrake for weight reduction. There are side speakers (and a rear-bumper-slash soundbox) for enhanced noise. There are… 3D-printed gussets. Have we read that right? Apparently so. Er, no further questions…
And finally, the RN24 is finished off with a touring car spoiler and 19in matte black forged wheels from the Elantra N.
“RN24 exemplifies Hyundai N’s commitment to advancing electric motorsport technology by prioritising the driving experience rather than spec numbers,” said Joon Park, Vice President of N Brand Management Group. “This Rolling Lab proves that there remains untapped potential for high-performance EVs and with new technologies ahead, there is much to look forward to.”
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Quick word on the numbers. The target figures (this is a test mule after all) are 0-62mph in under 3.4 seconds, a top speed of 149mph, and a weight of 1,880kg. Still a bit hefty for our liking. Time to slim down by shedding some rubber…
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