Hyundai’s N-brand and Racing Midship RM20e

Hyundai’s RM20e Racing Midship Sports Car

• The electrified RM20e Racing Midship Sports Car signifies the electric-based high-performance potential for the Hyundai N brand.
• RM20e based on the RM development platform for future N brand products and inspired by the electrified TCR racecar
• The electrified RM20e variant produces a blistering 596 kW (810 horsepower) and 960 Nm (708 lb.-ft.) of torque.

Hyundai Motor Company today introduced the next-generation electrified RM20e Racing Midship Sports Car to the world at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition 2020. The RM nomenclature refers to the N prototype model’s “Racing Midship” rear-drive, midship powertrain configuration, a fundamental design differentiator that yields ideal handling balance and agility from a low polar moment of inertia.

This RM platform facilitates an engineering “rolling lab” for testing high-performance technologies. This inherent balance and grip are also essential to help connect RM20e’s copious 596 kW (810 horsepower) and 960 Nm (708 lb-ft.) of torque to variable road surfaces.

In 2012, Hyundai embarked on project RM to develop and connect new high-performance motorsports technologies with future N models. Since project RM initiation, there has been a progressive evolution of the RM series, including RM14, RM15, RM16, and RM19.

In 2019, Hyundai’s first electric race car was developed for the eTCR electric touring car series: Veloster N eTCR was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. RM models have progressively undergone extensive testing to validate advanced technologies, observe their effective performance increase, and improve them for application in future N models.

“Our new electrified RM20e pushes the proven RM platform forcefully into a new, environmentally-focused decade of the 21st century, stretching the performance envelope of electrification on normal road environments,” said Albert Biermann, President and Head of Research and Development Division at Hyundai Motor Group. “RM20e represents a revolutionary new chapter of electrified performance for the Racing Midship series, and our N engineers continue to garner valuable insights in the arena of zero-emission performance dynamics.”

Featuring an explosively powerful 596 kW (810 horsepower) electric motor with 960 Nm (708 lb.-ft.) of torque, RM20e expects to yield superb blasts from zero-100 kph (zero-62 mph) in less than three seconds and zero-200 kph (zero-124 mph) at 9.88 seconds. RM20e utilizes its midship-based motor placement and rear-drive layout to achieve the traction required for this level of acceleration. RM20e combines racecar-like levels of performance, balance, braking, and grip while retaining daily-driver quietness, responsiveness, and road-going capability.

RM20e’s state-of-the-art electrified powertrain ensures zero-emissions combined with thrilling acceleration. Hyundai boasts an industry-leading variety of electrified-propulsion solutions, including production HEV, PHEV, BEV, and FCEV powertrains, a full spectrum of electrified powertrains are available for testing in this high-performance sports car platform.

Hyundai’s recent investment and strategic partnership with Rimac Automobili has facilitated both BEV and FCEV prototypes’ co-development. The electrified RM platform will continue to evolve along with the growth of this RIMAC partnership. Further, Hyundai Motor Group has set a strategic plan to deploy 44 eco-friendly models by 2025, taking the Hyundai N brand into the forefront of environmental responsibility.

“The RM20e sports car prototype signals future electrified brand aspirations for Hyundai’s performance N brand, moving N into the prestigious genre of supercar-level performance,” said Thomas Schemera, Executive Vice President and Head of Product Division at Hyundai Motor Group. “Moving forward, Hyundai N not only increases drivers’ heartbeats per minute via powerful internal combustion engines but also through the instantaneous torque and environmental sustainability of reliable electrified powertrains. RM20e proves that N driving excitement will not be compromised, even in electrified model variants.”

The ‘N’ of Hyundai N stands for Namyang, home to Hyundai’s global R&D center in Korea since 1995, where the N concept was born, and for the Nürburgring, home to Hyundai’s European Test Center. The close connection between Namyang and the Nürburgring created the foundation for N, building upon the company’s motorsport experience to bring thrilling road dynamics for those customers who genuinely love driving. The ‘N’ logo itself embodies this idea, as it symbolizes a classic road course chicane.

Hyundai Motor N’s high-performance technologies are honed at the iconic Nürburgring Nordschleife. Each car taking part in Hyundai Motor’s accelerated durability tests will lap the track 420 to 480 times in both wet and dry conditions, simulating over 160,934 km (100,000 miles) of severe driving in just four short weeks. The Nürburgring, with 73 corners and 20.9 km (13 miles) of tarmac, is widely considered one of the most challenging tracks globally, with a heritage that is second to none. It is also a motorsports complex and home to Hyundai Motor’s own 3,600 square meter testing center, operated by the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center.

Hyundai RM20e (N Brand Prototype) Specifications

Concept Name
RM20e (Hyundai N brand prototype)

Concept
Midship, rear-drive high-performance sports prototype
electrified powertrain

Body Configuration
Two-seat, two-door coupe (Veloster N body-in-white)
(Aluminum extrusion front subframe)
(Steel tube and plate rear subframe)

Powertrain Layout
Midship motor, Rear Drive Electric axle

Aerodynamics
The front splitter, large wing spoiler, and rear air diffuser

Motor
800V motor and inverter technology
596 kW (4 x 148 kW) peak power (20-second interval)
960 Nm (4 x 240 Nm) peak torque
(810 Horsepower and 708 lb.-ft. Torque equivalent)

Gearbox
Single reduction ratio 1:5.67
Straight-cut gears (Spur)

Battery
Energy: 60 kWh; peak power: 600 kW
Nominal voltage: 605 V; peak voltage: 705 V
Liquid-flooded battery-module technology
800V fast-charging capability

Top Speed
> 250 KPH (> 155 MPH)
* speed limited for public road driving

Suspension Type
(Front) MacPherson / (Rear) Double-Wishbone
(Adjustable hardpoints and geometry)

Dampers
Conventional gas-pressure dampers

Brake
6-piston (front) / 4-piston (rear)

Parking Brake
Mechanical type, in rear

ABS System
Motorsport ABS M5 (Bosch)
* Not valid for public roads

Steering Assist
Rack-mounted motor-driven power steering

Steering Wheel Design
Veloster N TCR design (with paddle shifters)

Overall Dimensions (mm)
4319 (length) x 1945 (width) x 1354 (height) /
2672 (wheelbase)

Interior
Sabelt sports seats, a 6-point safety harness system
E-drive dedicated instrument cluster

Overhang (mm)
899 (front) / 748 (rear)

Minimum Ground Clearance
80 mm

Tires
(Front) 265/35R19, (Rear) 305/30R20

Wheels
19” X 10” (front) / 20” X 11” (rear)
One-piece lightweight forged aluminum-alloy wheels
Larger, flared wheel-housing design