PUSHING BOUNDARIES WITH THE HYUNDAI N RN24 CONCEPT EV
The Hyundai N RN24 Concept EV is Hyundai's most ambitious rolling laboratory to date: a purpose-built experimental electric vehicle that distils ten years of World Rally Championship experience into a compact, 650 PS driver's machine. Unveiled at N Day 2024, the RN24 is not a production car but a technology demonstrator designed to shape the next generation of high-performance Hyundai N electric vehicles.
Performance: 650 PS from a WRC-Derived Electric System
At the heart of the RN24 is the motorsport-capable dual-motor electric powertrain borrowed from the IONIQ 5 N, tuned to deliver 650 PS in peak mode. This allows the RN24 to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in under 3.4 seconds. The same 84 kWh battery from the IONIQ 5 N is retained, but it has been repackaged to enable a 340 mm shorter wheelbase, shrinking the car to B-segment dimensions. The result is a vehicle that handles like a hot hatch but performs like a supercar.
Hyundai's engineers developed a WRC Powertrain Drive Control Logic system that allows the driver to fine-tune electric motor power output, acceleration sensitivity, regenerative braking sensitivity, and front/rear power balance from buttons on the steering wheel: a level of driver control unprecedented in a road-legal electric vehicle package.
Rally Mode, e-Handbrake, and WRC-Inspired Dynamics
The RN24's "Rally Mode" is one of its most technically significant features. Using electronic motor torque control, the system simulates the dynamic behaviour of Hyundai's i20 N Rally 1 Hybrid, reproducing the torque vectoring and cornering characteristics of a WRC car without the mechanical complexity. This technology is being developed specifically for transfer to future production N vehicles.
The e-Handbrake replaces a conventional hydraulic handbrake with a regenerative braking system that delivers consistent performance without weight penalty, directly inspired by Hyundai's decade of WRC competition. The suspension is a newly developed WRC-specification setup with rally-grade dampers and high-rigidity subframes, giving the RN24 ride and handling characteristics closer to a rally car than any road EV currently available.
Design: Exposed Exoskeleton and Motorsport Aesthetic
The RN24's defining visual element is its exposed roll cage exoskeleton: a highly rigid structure that combines occupant protection with aerodynamic and structural functions. The exoskeleton integrates technologies from WRC chassis design with the requirements of a modern electric platform, creating a visual language that is uncompromisingly motorsport-derived. The shortened wheelbase and compact proportions give the RN24 an agility that its performance numbers alone cannot convey.
An external high-output sound system with side speakers works alongside the IONIQ 5 N's N Active Sound+ system, with the rear fender designed to act as a resonating soundbox. Hyundai's design team has ensured that the RN24 communicates speed and aggression even when standing still.
What the RN24 Means for Future Hyundai N Electric Vehicles
The RN24 is not a promise of a specific production car. Instead, it serves as a development vehicle that feeds directly into Hyundai N's electric future. Every system tested on the RN24, from rally torque control to the e-Handbrake, is earmarked for integration into upcoming N production EVs. It demonstrates that Hyundai intends to make performance electric vehicles that are genuinely exciting to drive, not just fast in a straight line.
Photo: Hyundai
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