The company presents two high-performance concepts under the N label, the RN22e and N Vision 74, veritable “rolling laboratories” that pave the way for the IONIQ 5 N.
Last March, Hyundai announced its ambition to launch 17 electric car models by 2030. These will certainly include electric sports cars; the Korean manufacturer had teased one earlier this month in anticipation of its N-Day. Finally Hyundai did not just present a sports car, but two: the RN22e and N Vision 74.
Rolling laboratories
If you are familiar with the brand’s catalog, the RN22e should make you think furiously of the IONIQ 6. Rightly so, since this vehicle based on the E-GMP electric modular platform takes up its exterior design.
Regarding the N Vision 74, the brand presents it as a high-performance hydrogen fuel cell hybrid model, directly inspired by the Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo and the 1974 Hyundai Pony Coupe concept.
For the moment, Hynundai does not plan any series production of these two vehicles. The company’s first all-electric high-performance model will arrive next year, in 2023. Its name: IONIQ 5 N.
These models are prototypes and will allow Hyundai to test and prove its most avant-garde technologies with a view to then transposing them to the brand’s future production vehicles.
Thomas Schemera, Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Experience at Hyundai, summarizes:
“RN22e and N Vision 74 play a key role in the strategic development of our entire product range, including our high performance electrified vehicles. Our mobile laboratories reflect the continuous evolution of our most advanced technologies. This exclusive approach will enable us to meet the challenges of tomorrow by giving us the means to push back our limits. »
RN22e, a model cut out for circuit driving
Its design betrays its purpose, the RN22e is a model cut out for driving on the circuit. The vehicle is 4915mm long, 2023mm wide and 1479mm high with a wheelbase of 2950mm. To boost its skills on the circuit, the teams of the N department of Hyundai have focused their work on three key elements: the optimization of cooling and braking capacities and endurance.
Concretely, the RN22e is for example equipped with monoblock brake calipers with four pistons and hybrid discs of 400 mm in diameter allowing it to counteract the weight of its electric propulsion system (PE). In addition, engineers also plan to use RN22e to study how to produce dynamic motion via regenerative braking to precisely manage yaw rate and cornering attacks.
Hyundai also argues that the RN22e retains some cornering agility despite its weight by exploiting torque vectoring control via a dual clutch.
The main characteristics of the vehicle are displayed above. Top speed is just over 250 km/h. Autonomy is not specified.
N Vision 74, the heritage
This is a different philosophy that prevails for the N Vision 74. This car with a length of 4,952 mm, a width of 1,995 mm and a height of 1,331 mm for a wheelbase of 2,905 mm, is a tribute to the 1974 Hyundai Pony Coupe concept, developed by designer Giorgetto Giugiaro.
SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Design Center at Hyundai, said: The futuristic design of N Vision 74 demonstrates the respect and consideration we have for the commitment and passion with which the Pony Coupe concept was developed. “.
The N Vision 74 combines a battery-powered electric motor with a fuel cell system. According to the manufacturer, this allows for improved cooling capacity (three-channel cooling system), while both energy sources can be used depending on driving conditions.
The maximum speed is always above 250 km/h while the range is estimated at just over 600 km.
One final clarification: Hyundai maintains that all N models are ” designed for all types of drivers and needs, and not reserved for circuit or motorway driving “.
Source: Press release
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