LA MOTOR SHOW: Mid-engined Hyundai RM19 takes centre stage

Hyundai has shown off the latest version of its mid-engined Veloster concept – the RM19 Racing Midship Sports Car Prototype.

With development dating back to 2012, the evolving concept ditches its rear seat in favour of a mid-mounted engine that drives the rear wheels. Significantly, Hyundai says the latest version has been fettled and improved “for subsequent application on future N models” – borrowing elements of the TCR-class racer, no less.

Production values aside, the concept car looks race-ready with a huge front splitter and bonnet vent, along with aggressive fender guards. The rear matches the front with an oversized wing and aggressive rear diffuser.

Inside, things are a little tamer, with bolstered sports seats and a racing steering wheel. The biggest difference from the production Veloster is a bulkhead, necessary to separate the cabin from the mid-mounted engine.

All told, the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four makes 291kW and is matched to a motorspec-spec six-speed sequential gearbox. Hyundai hints at a 0-100km/h dash of “less than four seconds”, while also touting “supercar-level handling balance and low-polar-moment-of-inertia agility for outstanding connection to the tarmac at all speeds and driving conditions”.

“In 2012, Hyundai embarked on a project called RM (Racing Midship) to develop and connect new high-performance motorsports technologies with future N models,” the car-maker said.

“Since the initiation of project RM and via evolution of the RM series (RM14, RM15 and RM16), RM models underwent extensive road testing to validate newly-developed technologies, observe their effects on performance, and improve them for subsequent application on future N models.”

Furthermore, Hyundai says the RM19 has the ability to take on electrification in the form of either hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric or fuel-cell powertrains.

“The RM platform is a versatile engineering testbed, allowing effective evaluation of various powertrains and performance levels, all on normal roads and environments,” said Albert Biermann, head of global research and development for Hyundai.

“Throughout the evolution of the RM series, our engineers have gained tremendous hands-on knowledge of high performance vehicle dynamics with various front-to-rear weight distributions coupled with the effects of a fully-weighted, high-strength body structure on vehicle performance.”

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