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Hyundai's RN22e high-performance EV concept is a real threat to other performance EVs. It's swift and can easily make you drool over its beauty.
Electric vehicles have been a priority for almost all car makers as all major businesses are trying their best to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and internal combustion engines to reduce emissions and save non-renewable energy. While the majority of EVs on the market emphasize providing customers with better mileage and a smoother driving experience, some companies differentiate themselves by providing customers with performance EVs, which compete with internal combustion engine-powered performance cars.
Hyundai has been one of the innovative carmakers in the industry and has seen heavy growth in the past decade. Thanks to the engineers and designers, Hyundai is now one of the biggest businesses in the United States due to its high sales numbers. Last week, the South Korean car maker introduced two new performance EVs, and we still can't get enough of how beautiful they look. The Hyundai RN22e and N Vision 74 are specimens of what Hyundai is capable of and how they are keen on redefining the ante presently ruled by Tesla and other mega car companies. While we leave the N Vision 74 to be discussed on some other time, let's dig deeper into the RN22e Concept for now and talk about its standout feature.
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According to Hyundai, its RN22e concept is a high-performance EV that is based on the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) platform, also underpinning the Ioniq 6 luxury electric sedan. The upcoming RN22e high-performance electric sedan is propelled by a duo of electric motors. The 214 hp electric motor at the front and the 270 hp rear motors combine to form an all-wheel-drive system, and it comes packed with a 77.4 kWh battery.
The power unit makes 576 horsepower and 545 lb-ft of torque with both motors combined. While we are unaware of how fast the RN22e will accelerate, we expect it to hit the 60 mph mark in under 4.2 seconds and cover the quarter-mile in under 11 seconds, as well as a speculated top speed of 270 mph. The 77.4 kWh battery will also come standard with a 400V charger, which will supposedly fully charge the battery in an hour. Furthermore, an 800V fast charger will be available, and it will take only 18 minutes to charge the battery from 10–80%.
Besides these, the powertrain comes equipped with a new cooling setup which Hyundai calls "Racetrack Enhanced Cooling." This new track-optimized cooling system helps by cooling the battery, electric motor, and other electronic parts to improve performance on the track.
Related: The 2022 Kia EV6 GT Is A High Performance Futuristic EV
Hyundai has designed the E-GMP platform, especially for EVs and the clever design has helped the engineers to equip the battery in the chassis. This witty engineering has helped engineers pack the chassis with the two electric motors, battery, and suspension into one unit. This has made the car lighter because of the lower curb weight. Although this exceptional engineering may seem complicated, its merits show up once you drive the car. Furthermore, Hyundai has employed 3D-printed parts to make the car lighter. All these help with optimal weight distribution and a lower center of gravity.
To give the RN22e sportier driving characteristics, Hyundai has made special mechanical tweaks to the concept car. As mentioned earlier, the duo of electric motors forms an all-wheel-drive system, and they are equipped with e-TVTC (electronic Torque Vectoring by Twin Clutch), which helps with dynamic power distribution in each wheel. This reduces understeer and motivates the driver to take more confident corners.
The e-TVTC and N Drift models also allow the driver to customize power on the front and rear wheels to improve performance on tracks and perform better drifts. For a strong braking performance, the wheels are equipped with 15.7-inch ventilated disc brakes coupled with 4-piston monoblock calipers.
Related: The Awesome Hyundai N Vision 74 Bets Big On Hydrogen-Power With Retro Styling
Both the Ioniq 6 and the RN22e are based on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform and share an identical exterior design language. The exterior design of the Ioniq 6 was already phenomenal, but Hyundai refused to rest its nerves. They based the RN22e on the same platform and incorporated the same design into it, but they have made it look sportier with a sharper fascia design, more chiseled headlights, and an N-embossed sport front bumper. At the rear, the RN22e sports a leaner character with the new spoiler, a completely new faux diffuser, and sleeker taillamps. In addition to these, the exterior also flaunts N-specific decorations like N badging on the body and dark blue stripes. Furthermore, the larger tires and alloy wheels will improve its track potential.
Overall, the upcoming Hyundai RN22e will have a strong presence in the market. As of now, Hyundai hasn’t yet revealed any information regarding the launch date or official pricing. However, we expect the RN22e to come with a name tag of Hyundai Ioniq 6 N and expect the starting price to be around $60,000. Based on its class, engine, and body type, the RN22e will compete with the likes of the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S.
Sourav hails from Siliguri, a city very close to the Himalayas in the northern part of West Bengal, India. Anything that has to do with wheels fascinates him. He has a soft spot for Lexus and BMW. He rides a Royal Enfield Thunderbird and is often seen with his group of friends in nearby hill stations. He also loves doing photography and making music. After working with CARHP and CAR INDIGO for more than 15 months, he joined HotCars to continue in automotive writing. He's currently crushing upon the Triumph Tiger 1200.