HYUNDAI Motor Firm (HMC) has confirmed what many have suspected for some time now with its N Efficiency division set to dip its toes into electrification within the coming years, largely facilitated by its new electrical world modular platform (e-GMP).
Talking on the world reveal of the brand new Kona N, HMC chief advertising officer Thomas Schemera revealed the primary electrified N Efficiency automobile was properly into its improvement.
“One in every of Hyundai’s high priorities is electrification, there’s little question about it,” he stated.
“We made some excellent expertise with the RM20e that was launched in Beijing final yr – excellent character, enjoyable to drive to make all of our N clients glad.
“There’s one thing within the pipeline not too far down the highway – there’s one thing arising.
“Possibly it rings a bell if you concentrate on our e-GMP, our electrical world modular platform, this reveals loads of potential and loads of flexibility, so keep tuned.”
Up to now HMC has solely revealed one e-GMP-based mannequin, the Ioniq 5, nevertheless up to now there have been two autos to utilise the platform with the opposite being the Kia EV6.
Taken at face worth, it might be straightforward to imagine Mr Schemera was referring to the inaugural Ioniq product – at this stage the one possibility – with extra gasoline added to the hearth when inspecting the worldwide line-up.
In its most potent type, the Ioniq 5 develops a good, if not ground-breaking 225kW/605Nm from its twin electrical motors, whereas the flagship Kia EV6 GT churns out a supercar-baiting 430kW/720Nm.
It’s clear then the e-GMP is – as promised – able to dealing with immense quantities of energy and there’s fairly clearly room within the 5 line-up for a efficiency hero, nevertheless it might not fairly take the battle to Kia by way of sheer firepower.
As a substitute, it’s totally doubtless an Ioniq 5 N would concentrate on dynamics and extra particularly within the phrases of HMC analysis and improvement boss Albert Biermann, delivering one of the best “fun-per-dollar”.
“The N therapy, that has to observe our three base columns of Hyundai N; so make the nook rascal, make it an on a regular basis sportscar and make it (have) racetrack functionality,” Mr Biermann stated.
“In case you have a look at an N automobile, in fact it seems to be fairly comparable however there’s many adjustments within the physique are; we stiffen up sure areas relying on the mannequin … utterly completely different kinematics for extra suggestions, steering response, steering linearity.
“The brakes in fact are a lot greater for monitor driving – the entire cooling system is much more highly effective that you just get pleasure from monitor driving for a number of laps on a racetrack with out degradation.
“The engine in fact is extra highly effective, clearly following response, linearity, good management on the restrict, it’s not a lot going for the height energy or going for the height torque, it’s all about the way you management the engine, how a lot does it allow you to to get loads of enjoyable with the automobile on a monitor or nation highway.”
Mr Biermann went onto element the opposite adjustments and enhancements made as a part of the N makeover, together with the inside and seats, driving place, tyres and cornering {hardware}.
The prospect of N transferring into electrification was first teased by executives in November final yr on the digital debut of the e-GMP the place varied high-performance fashions have been promised.
Efficiency BEVs should not the one avenue being explored by the N sub-brand in the intervening time nevertheless with hydrogen fuel-cell know-how additionally being explored, together with an revolutionary new mix of the 2.
“We’re engaged on a rolling lab venture truly, the place we now have a high-powered battery powertrain mixed with a gasoline cell,” Mr Biermann stated.
“On this set-up, the gasoline cell provides in fact to the facility but in addition to the vary of the automobile and that could be a good difficult train for our engineers to squeeze excessive energy battery-electric powertrain and the fuel-cell stack right into a sportscar.
It stays to be seen but if this thriller “rolling lab” automobile will make it to manufacturing with Mr Biermann including that whereas nothing had been determined, a number of prototypes had been developed for highway testing.
Questions have additionally been raised as to if HMC could be launching a mid-engined efficiency automobile within the ilk of the “playground” RM20e prototype revealed by the model in September final yr.
In accordance with Mr Schemera, the RM20e’s platform is a take a look at mattress for the model’s engineers to “validate superior applied sciences” nevertheless there have been nonetheless questions as to if a mid-engined N automobile was “the suitable mannequin to give you sooner or later”.
“Our credo is to handle and to make our services reasonably priced and accessible for a variety of fans and coming with a super-sportscar in that value vary, we haven’t made any selections but,” he stated.
Mr Biermann was extra clear-cut in his enlargement of Mr Schemera’s feedback, bluntly stating that it was doubtless the model would develop and launch a “mid-ship battery N automobile sooner or later”.
Given the e-GMP structure already homes its batteries between the 2 axles, it’s anybody’s guess as to precisely what type this “mid-ship” EV will take – for reference, the RM20e idea relies on a Veloster shell.
