Hyundai hints at next-gen electric hot hatch with RN24 ‘rolling lab’

Hyundai has said it intends to bring back compact, lightweight vehicles for its next generation of electric ‘N’ road cars.

At its N Day 2024, the Korean firm unveiled the RN24 rolling lab – a test bed for new EV technology that could eventually find its way into road cars.

The stripped back machine uses the 641bhp all-wheel-drive powertrain from the existing Ioniq 5 N installed into a World Rally Championship-inspired chassis. Changes to the battery pack allow the same 84kWh capacity to be squeezed into what is a car the size of its previous i20 N hot hatch.

Hyundai says that it was “‘inspired by the desire to fit the most powerful EV powertrain into the smallest possible package” and showcases N’s vision for the near future.

Like the Ioniq 5 N, the RN24 will hit 62mph in under 3.4 seconds, but the exo-skeleton construction means the concept vehicle weighs 1,880kg, 355kg less than the existing road car.

While the powertrain is from the road car, it also borrows heavily from Hyundai’s WRC vehicles. Rally tech on the test mule includes an E-handbrake, rally-spec dampers, ‘rally mode’ torque control and the WRC Powertrain Drive Control Logic system that adjusts power, acceleration sensitivity, regenerative brake sensitivity, and power balance using steering wheel buttons.

There is also an external high-output sound system, with two side speakers and a rear fender design that acts as a soundbox, for an ‘immersive’ soundtrack.

While it is purely a testbed for systems, Hyundai says the car is helping streamlining the rally control systems in terms of complexity and cost for a “more realistic application in future production cars”.

“RN24 exemplifies Hyundai N’s commitment to advancing electric motorsport technology by prioritizing the driving experience rather than spec numbers,” said Joon Park, vice president of N Brand management group. “This rolling lab proves that there remains untapped potential for high-performance EVs and with new technologies ahead, there is much to look forward to.”