Hyundai is no stranger to wild concepts. Back in 2022, the South-Korean giant released two out-of-this-world concepts called the RN22e and N Vision 74. The first was essentially a highly modified IONIQ 6 which gave us a glimpse of the upcoming IONIQ 6 N. The second was a retro-inspired electric and hydrogen hybrid that hearkened its design influence to the original Hyundai Pony coupe concept from 1974.
More recently, Hyundai went ahead and released the IONIQ 5 N, arguably the coolest electric hot hatchback currently on sale due to its illusionary technology that fools you into believing you’re driving a car powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE). And now, there’s this: the RN24 rolling lab, essentially a stripped down IONIQ 5 N tuned and modified by the same folks that build Hyundai’s WRC rally cars.
Hyundai RN24 Weighs 716 Pounds Less Than An IONIQ 5 N
The RN24 is nothing more than an exercise in weight savings and chassis dynamics, but it becomes fascinating to see what happens to electric vehicles (EVs) once you shed off their excess weight. We all know EVs are heavy, mostly due to their batteries. This is also why they generally put down a ridiculous amount of horsepower and torque. But what happens when you put that same drivetrain into something that’s much lighter?
In the case of the RN24 rolling lab, due to the fact that most of the IONIQ 5’s body panels and interior were removed, you end up with a machine that’s 716 pounds lighter than the donor car on which it’s based. Hyundai also shortened the car’s wheelbase by 340 mm (13 inches) to give it dimensions that are more in tune with a traditional compact, B-segment car. The battery is the same 84-kWh unit as in a regular IONIQ 5 N.
The end result is a 0-100 km/h (62 MPH) target that’s under 3.4 seconds and, according to Hyundai, an entirely new paradigm of grip, handling and braking. Hyundai doesn’t go into performance specifics, but the way this thing was set up, with its exposed roll cage, improved rigidity and super advanced rally-inspired torque distribution technology to all four wheels, gives me the impression it must drive like a very powerful go-kart that generates enough grip to rip your face off of your skull. From Hyundai’s press release:
The RN24 is fitted with a spoiler from Hyundai Motorsport’s Touring Car Racing (TCR) models. This spoiler enhances aerodynamic performance, improving agility and stability. RN24 also implements 3D-printed gussets for better rigidity and weight reduction. This combination of innovative features defines RN24 and Hyundai N’s approach to design, technology and performance, pushing the boundaries of electric motorsport technology.
We’ll probably never see this thing as a production vehicle. I’m not sure if it would even meet any crash testing regulations. But it forecasts the future of Hyundai’s race cars. The carmaker did create a race series to include the IONIQ 5 N in it as a race car, so the RN24 is nothing more than an evolution of this.
The rolling concept will also serve as a test bed for Hyundai’s future chassis and weight-saving development in its production cars. I’m ending this with a video of the darn thing destroying its tires during Ken Block-style drift maneuvers for your viewing pleasure.
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