Hyundai Unveils Performance EV Concept Cars
Hyundai Motor’s high-performance N sub-brand has revealed two new concept cars, the RN22e and N Vision 74, to highlight its electrification vision and development of zero-emissions technologies, the automaker announced.
Hyundai Motor’s ‘rolling labs’ are where it tests and verifies the company’s advanced technologies to apply them to future production models, the company said. RN22e melds the all-new IONIQ 6 and the company’s Electric-Global Modular Platform (E‑GMP), while the N Vision 74 combines EV technology with an advanced hydrogen fuel cell system.
“RN22e and N Vision 74 play an important role in the strategic development of our entire product lineup, especially our electrified, high-performance vehicles,” said Thomas Schemera, executive vice president and head of Customer Experience Division at Hyundai Motor Company. “Rolling labs represent the continuous development of our most advanced technologies. This unique approach makes us ready for the challenges of the future by empowering us to push ourselves to the limit.”
Both RN22e and N Vision 74 will continue to be tested and verified by Hyundai’s engineers, so future N road cars can be equipped with their advanced technologies, the company said.
RN22e
RN22e offers racetrack-ready performance by optimizing Hyundai’s E-GMP and packaging it in an IONIQ 6-based streamliner design. As Hyundai N’s first rolling lab based on E-GMP, RN22e shows the electrified N brand’s vision and direction while opening the possibility of a high-performance EV model in the future.
N has been developing cornering capability since the brand launch and has been providing e-LSD, Corner Carving Differential, for most N models. RN22e explores torque vectoring by twin clutch. Moreover, 3D printed parts reduce weight and keep the rigidity for better corner attack. Equipped with AWD, RN22e provides optimized torque distribution according to different drive modes that allows drivers to choose the torque power on the front and rear wheels.
To enhance RN22e’s racetrack capability, N focused on cooling and braking to enhance endurance, designers said, and have equipped RN22e with track-optimized settings, and has four piston monoblock calipers and a 400-mm hybrid disc allows RN22e to withstand the weight of its power electric (PE) system. In addition, Hyundai N will use RN22e to study how to deliver dynamic movement with regen-braking that precisely controls yaw and corner attack.
The RN22e is also being used to develop new features, such as the emotional driving experience for electrified models. RN22e provides N Sound+, which generates sound from the interior and exterior speakers, for a dynamic driving feel. In addition, N e-shift integrates the vibration and shifting feel with N Sound+.
N Vision 74
Inspired by Hyundai Motor’s heritage, N Vision 74 is a high-performance hydrogen fuel cell hybrid rolling lab, the company said.
In terms of design, N Vision 74 pays an homage to the Hyundai Pony Coupe concept from 1974, which was developed by car designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. The concept was then built into prototypes for Hyundai’s first production sports car.
N Vision 74 inherited the pure surface, the dynamic proportioned profile and the unique B pillar from the 1974 Pony Coupe concept, designers said, and is equipped with a driver-centric cockpit with a blend of heritage elements and modern design, such as digital cluster and analogue buttons.
Hyundai’s engineers developed a hybrid structure of a battery-electric in combination with an FCEV system, which is placed in an all-new layout. By having fuel cell system and battery-electric powering the N Vision 74 together, the cooling efficiency is improved, while the two different power sources can be used depending on different driving conditions, the company said. This fine-tuned logic system enables better torque vectoring by twin motors on the rear, allowing a precise and responsive cornering experience. Moreover, N Vision 74 explores the balance between the performance and cooling with a three-channel cooling system.
The high-performance technology is fully integrated into the design to fulfil the FCEV’s heat management requirements. With such functional aesthetics, N Vision 74 explores the balance between state-of-the-art-technology and iconic design. Along with long-range and fast refueling capabilities, N Vision 74 guarantees driving fun with a sustainable power source via the application of cutting-edge technologies. According to Hyundai, the hybrid power unit will provide over 650 horsepower and the car will have a top speed of over 150 mph.
