A mid-engine sports car from Hyundai would be a first for the brand and could help reboot the segment.
It seems like the affordable mid-engine sports car wars are heating up. Hyundai recently published a YouTube video on its channel, teasing a new prototype that’s sporting a new mid-placed internal combustion engine.
This is a hugely new development for the Korean automaker as Hyundai has never produced a passenger car with a mid-mounted powertrain. Such layouts are often reserved for high-end and premium sports cars.
But with Toyota reportedly working to revive its affordable and iconic mid-engine sports car, the MR2, this could mean other automakers, like Hyundai, could be looking to compete.
Hyundai teased its idea of a dedicated sports car with the N Vision 74 Concept in 2024. – Credit: Hyundai
A mid-engine Hyundai would be the first of its kind
Never before has Hyundai produced a mid-engine passenger car of any sort. But once the automaker began expressing its motorsports and performance aspirations, some hints began to trickle in, suggesting their interest.
For instance, back in 2012, Hyundai started working on a mid-engine racecar and developmental platform. That later came to fruition in the form of the Project RM14 (RM standing for “Racing Midship”).
Hyundai’s experimentation with mid-engine prototypes dates back as far as 2012. – Credit: Hyundai
The RM14 was essentially a rear-wheel-drive Veloster-based prototype with a mid-mounted engine. Hyundai’s research and development team later evolved the vehicle into the RM15, RM16 and RM19 concepts. However, none of those reached production.
Hyundai later put the project on the backburner. Though it did tease the N Vision 74 sports car just last year to renew its dedicated sports car aspirations.
Should a mid-engine sports car happen, it could resemble the N Vision 74 Concept. – Credit: Hyundai
But now, it looks like the Korean automaker is injecting some newfound interest into the prospect of a mid-engine internal combustion-powered car.
Hyundai’s goal is to mass-produce this mid-ship engine
In the YouTube video, one of Hyundai Motor Group’s engineers, Daehee Kim, talks about his team’s latest efforts. In the current sit-rep, Kim describes the engine as a completely new ground-up design.
The striking appearances of the N Vision 74 Concept certainly grabs one’s attention. – Credit: Hyundai
However, expectedly, it isn’t without its trials and tribulations. An internal combustion engine designed and engineered for midship placement is uncharted territory for Hyundai.
For the team to design, engineer, and build one from the ground up and without any external assistance (like, from another automaker), takes a lot of effort and resources.
“We’re currently developing the MR (Midship-Rear wheel drive) engine. The MR engine is a completely new engine, and its design and configuration is quite different from any other engine,” Kim said, translating his interview from Korean into English.
The Hyundai RM14 was one of the automaker’s first attempts at building a mid-engine production vehicle. – Credit: Hyundai
“It’s a high-speed, high-performance engine, so we’re facing a lot of challenges. However, we are gradually establishing a direction with our seniors (researchers/engineers),” Kim continued.
But the most important bit is where Kim describes the team’s intent to mass-produce the engine.
The RM14 later evolved to the RM15, based off the second-generation Veloster. – Credit: Hyundai
Normally, mid-placed engines are often reserved for cars, like the Porsche 718, various Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and so-on. Even the Chevrolet Corvette moved its engine to the middle in a move to truly up its dynamic handling game.
But with prospects like the mid-engine Toyota MR2 on the horizon, this could reboot a once-begone era of affordable sports cars.
At this point, Hyundai’s brushing up on 15 years of developing a mid-engine powertrain. – Credit: Hyundai
“Our team’s goal is to develop an engine that meets the performance requirements of the market, and mass produce it without problems,” Kim further elaborated. “This requires a disciplined approach to not overlooking even the smallest details.”
Hyundai’s stretching the boundaries of its performance aspirations
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is proof that the automaker takes its performance division seriously. – Credit: Hyundai
It was only a little over a decade ago when Hyundai began establishing its N performance brand. While a purveyor of affordable and cheap economy cars for a long period, the N brand was a huge change.
The N brand has since become a cornerstone of the Korean automaker as the equivalent to what GR and Toyota Racing Development is to Toyota, and STI is to Subaru.
The Hyundai Elantra N is one of the few models that offers serious performance in an affordable package. – Credit: Hyundai
Once Hyundai hired the former chief engineer and front man for BMW’s legendary M Performance division, Albert Biermann, in the mid-2010s, Hyundai’s performance aspirations became even more serious. From these efforts, we’ve seen some seriously formidable performance cars such as the Elantra N and even the Ioniq 5 N.
Although teased in doses, Hyundai has more N tricks up its sleeve in the near-future. – Credit: Hyundai
To hear that Hyundai’s revisiting its mid-engine sports car goals further shows how far the automaker is really looking to push outside is own envelope.
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