Hyundai RM16 Concept – a rolling test bed for Hyundai’s N Performance
Hyundai’s latest mid-engined performance concept – the Hyundai RM16 – hints further at what we can expect from Hyundai’s N Performance range.
From the arrival of the Hyundai Nurburgring Test Centre in 2013, to the official arrival of the new ‘N Performance’ brand in 2015, the arrival of Albert Biermann from BMW ‘M’, and the prototype for the i30 N competing at the Nurburgring, Hyundai has been building the pieces of its performance road car puzzle for some time, and its mid-engined Veloster Concepts are a big part of that.
The latest Concept – the Hyundai RM16 (RM means ‘Racing Midship’ and 16 is the year) follows on from the previous RM14 and RM 15 Concepts and points clearly to what Hyundai are driving towards with N Performance (even if it’s not exactly a mid-engined Veloster).
Behind the seats of the RM16 sits a 2.0 litre theta T-GDI engine, a version of which will sit in the new i30 N when it arrives next year, which in the RM16 delivers 300PS, some 40PS more than we expect the i30 N to have, but demonstrating what Hyundai could deliver.
The RM16 also uses a manual gearbox as well as an electronically controlled limited-slip diff, and an electric supercharger to boost power and responsiveness.
The RM16’s bodywork has been designed to create downforce, and has panels made from CFRP and attached to an aluminium space frame to keep weight in check, there’s an electronically variable exhaust system and the sports seats adapt to the way the car is being driven.
Much of what Hyundai has learnt from its RM concepts can be applied to the range of N Performance road cars, and now all the pieces are falling in to place the hope that the Hyundai i30 N Performance will offer a very credible range of road cars is quickly turning in to an expectation.
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