Hyundai Motor Company has been working on the project RM, which aims to develop high-performance technologies, and unveiled RM20e, the fifth model of the project. Being the first high-performance electric vehicle, RM20e will be an important milestone towards the mass production of high-performance N electric vehicles.
Hyundai has revealed a hint of its future high-performance cars. The RM20e is the fifth concept car of the Racing Midship (RM), which Hyundai has been carrying out since 2012 intending to develop high-performance technologies. The RM20e is a model that combines the company’s will to produce high-performance cars that offer driving pleasure even in the future when eco-friendly cars become the mainstream.
Hyundai suggests the possibility of high-performance N models that could also be electric; they can house an electric powertrain in the center of the body and produce 810 horsepower from the rear wheels.
RM20e: Super Car-level High-Performance EV
The technologies Hyundai developed through a number of motorsports and the company’s high-performance electrification technology consummated RM20e. On top of that, RM20e was born through the process of reinterpreting the philosophy of N brand, which provides an everyday dynamic driving experience anywhere including racing tracks. That is why the dynamic design RM20e was inspired by the Veloster N ETCR unveiled at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. For your information, the Veloster N ETCR is a high-performance electric race car developed to participate in the Electric Touring Car Race (ETCR), which is planned to be held first next year.
Using the body of its predecessor, RM19, the body of RM20e has a longer and wider ratio than that of Veloster N. This is due to the MR (Midship Rear Drive) structure. The lowest ground clearance is only 80mm, and the body height is 1,354mm, about 40mm lower than the Veloster N, featuring a slimmer posture.
With front and rear tire sizes reaching 265/35R 19, 305/30R 20, respectively, there is a dynamic atmosphere from the aerodynamic parts such as large rear spoilers and rear diffusers. This gives an idea of the dynamic driving performance of the RM20e. This is because these factors help users to perform agile handling performance and tight grip at any time, even when driving at high speeds or getting through corners quickly.
Above all, the most eye-catching feature is the explosive performance of RM20e, which has the highest power of 810 horsepower and maximum torque of 97.9kgf·m. The sources of this performance are four electric motors (148 kW per unit, 240 Nm) and a 60 kWh-battery placed behind the driver’s seat. Unlike previous RM concept cars that used internal combustion engines (2.0l turbo engines), the RM20e has an electric powertrain and can run without emitting a gram of emissions. The acceleration performance of the RM20e, which kicks the ground with strong electrical energy, is within three seconds until 100 km/h from zero and 9.88 seconds until 200 km/h.
The reason why RM20e can perform so strongly is that it has adopted a high-voltage system of 800V. The system is a technology that features the strong performance of electric powertrain, fast reaction speed, and high-speed charging, drawing attention as an essential element of high-performance electric vehicles. Previously, Hyundai Motor Group’s electric vehicles, including Kona Electric and Niro EV, used a 356V system; so it took about an hour to charge 80 percent of the 64kWh battery when using a 100kW rapid charger. But, the 800V high-voltage system can greatly reduce the charging time by increasing the output of the fast charger. Hyundai Motor Group is planning to apply an 800V high-voltage system starting with the next-generation EVs in 2021.
One of the secrets of RM20e’s dynamic performance lies in the structure of the body. This is because the center of gravity is lowered by placing heavy motors and batteries between the driver’s seat and the rear wheels, hence effectively dividing the front and rear of the vehicle. Lowering the center of gravity improves driving stability even at high speeds, and the more lightweight front guarantees more agile cornering performance. In other words, the company has laid the foundation for driving with a full performance at any time.
RM20e also strengthened lower body parts such as suspension and brakes to match explosive performance. The MacPherson strut, which is the most commonly used for front axles due to its simple structure, and the Double Wishbone suspension, which adds a more secured connection to the upper McPherson strut structure, are applied at the front and the back, and designed to be able to adjust the suspension setting organically depending on the situation. In addition, a damper with adjustable damping force, which regulates the impact and grip of the road surface depending on driving conditions, created a solid and flexible lower body. In addition, the performance of the brake calipers is enhanced so that the speed can be reduced instantly at high speeds, and the ABS module exclusively for motorsports is applied to suit the driving on the circuit. As a result of these elements, the RM20e was able to become a high-performance electric sports car featuring supercar-like sharp cornering and explosive acceleration.
The RM20e also features the interior of a high-performance car. It has prepared a sports seat that can be equipped with a race car steering wheel of Veloster N TCR with high grip and a six-point harness so that drivers can operate it stably even in such harsh driving conditions, reaching their limits. The electric vehicle’s instrument panel and the paddle shift behind the steering wheel are also unique.
For better high-performance car technology: Project RM
The predecessor of RM20e is the project RM, which Hyundai has been promoting since 2012. Project RM is a project that was started to develop technologies and know-how suitable for high-performance vehicles based on the midship structure and the Rear Drive method that puts the engine in the middle of the body. To this end, it has been verified and refined with high-performance technologies that are being developed ahead of time in test cars that can actually be driven. From RM14 in 2014 to RM20e this year, a total of five prototype test cars were unveiled by Hyundai. They are the foundation of the high-performance brand N and a blueprint for developing high-performance technologies that can play an active role in motorsports.
The RM14, the first model of the project RM, featured a 2.0-liter Theta turbo engine that enhanced performance to 300hp, a weight distribution of 43:57 (front and rear), and the lowest ground clearance lowered to 120 mm for aerodynamics. RM15 and RM16 focused on lightweight design, and speaking of RM16, acceleration and cornering performance were enhanced by adding equipment such as a 48V electric supercharger and e-LSD (an electronic limited-slip differential). The RM19, introduced last year, is designed to become even more thorough midship sports cars by using a large number of parts from Veloster N TCR racing cars. RM20e is the first project RM vehicle to use an electric powertrain, extending the possibilities of the RM series and N brand to be eco-friendly. By utilizing a high-performance electric powertrain, it has more than doubled its output and confirmed the practicality of the 800V high-voltage system that will be applied to actual mass-produced EVs. It has increased the feasibility of high-performance N electric vehicles that will be introduced in the future. The fact that the automaker is putting its RM prototype into actual testing proves the idea.
Instead of simply showcasing the RM test car, Hyundai tested the performance and durability of the vehicle across ordinary roads and harsh driving conditions. Through this, the experience and technical skills accumulated in motorsports were applied to mass-produced cars, and further, popularizing the high-performance brand N. Returning to the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2014, winning the manufacturer’s title in 2019, and winning the World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) for two consecutive years, the company could utilize the technology for its N model thanks to the project RM, which acted as the ‘Rolling Lab’.
RM20e: the Blueprint of the Electrification of High-Performance N
Through the Veloster N ETCR and RM20e, Hyundai has secured the confidence and technical skills to develop high-performance electric vehicles that can be mass-produced. The know-how gained from developing RM20e will be used to improve the high-performance N electric vehicles in the future. In addition, Hyundai has been working on the Project RMs and is looking for the possibility of applying eco-friendly powertrain such as hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cell as well as electric powertrain to its high-performance cars. The project RM is the essence of Hyundai’s future strategy, which plans to introduce 44 eco-friendly models by 2025, including the high-performance, eco-friendly N model.