Meet the Hyundai RN24, a track-focused prototype

Hyundai’s experimental RN24 uses the same 84-kWh battery as the Ioniq 5 N to drive the wheels with 650 PS (641 hp / 478 kW) on electricity alone.

It features an all-new chassis created from scratch using rally car design know-how, such as rally-grade shock absorbers and subframes. The wheelbase is fairly short at 2,660 mm (104 inches) – the Ioniq mentioned above has 3 meters (117.2 inches) between the axles.

A system called WRC Powertrain Drive Control Logic enables drivers to adjust and fine-tune most driving parameters and settings in real time using buttons on the steering wheels, much like the marque’s track-only WRC models do. A special preset called Rally Mode – also borrowed from the WRC series – allows for precise per-wheel torque control.

To make the car sound believable, Hyundai equips it with its Active Sound+ system already used in the Ioniq 5 N. It uses speakers and rear fenders as resonators to enhance the driving experience.

On the exterior side of things, an exposed roll cage and hardly any bodywork are the biggest design highlights. The car rides on 19-inch wheels and rocks a large rear wing shared with Hyundai’s Touring sports cars. The whole car weighs 1,880 kilograms (4,145 pounds) and needs “less than 3.4 seconds” to reach 100 km/h (62 mph), the manufacturer says.

While still a concept at this time, Hyundai argues that the RN24 crosses the bridge between its track-only and road-legal models. It may not make it into production in its current state, but certain design solutions will be certain to get used somewhere down the line.