With the world moving towards electrification, car enthusiasts have grown increasingly worried about the future of spirited driving. There is a constant fear that the raw, pure feel of an ICE vehicle will go away when the world transitions. Hyundai and its hotshot performance N division wallops these thoughts with two concept vehicles that represent the brand’s future. These are the Hyundai N Rolling Lab cars are the RN22e and N Vision 74, attacking the topic with different approaches in both modernity and nostalgia.
As a concept, Hyundai N Rolling Lab symbolizes constant evolution. It is a playground for the latest technologies that are currently in development and testing. Some of these will eventually make their way to the production models, even the non-performance variants.
The first is the forward-facing Hyundai RN22e. It’s based on the all-new iONIQ 6 equipped with an enhanced version of the company’s Electric-Global Modular Platform.
Embodying one of the N philosophy’s primary pillars, this car was also designed to be a corner rascal. It is the first N model to feature All Wheel Drive (AWD), clawing its way out of a corner with supreme traction. It also possesses the e-LSD (like other N models) as well as the signature corner-carving differential. The AWD system can also be configured to send more power to the rear or keep things 50/50 to promote certain behaviors under load. A wider stance and 3D-printed aerodynamic bits ensure that performance in the bends is top-notch.
Luckily, it stops as quickly as it goes. A four-piston monoblock caliper and 400mm hybrid disc setup was engineered to swiftly stop the additional weight of the electric system. Like other electric vehicles, energy is recouped under coasting or braking situations.
At this point, you may be thinking that “what is speed without exhilaration?” The developers at the N division have also kept this in mind. This may be a hit-or-miss but an artificial engine sound pours into the cabin through the speakers. Surprisingly, tweeters are also found on the exterior of the vehicle which purrs for onlookers and bystanders – completing the N Sound+ system.
N e-Shift also integrates vibration and shifting feel to be as immersive as possible. Talk about a racing e-sim but in real life.
The second Hyundai N Rolling Lab is the N Vision 74. This is a special moment in history since it celebrates the original design of the very first Hyundai sports car: the 1974 Pony Coupe. It was originally developed by legendary designer Giorgetto Giugiaro but never rolled out on the production line due to priorities at that point in time.
“N Vision 74’s future-oriented design reflects the respect and appreciation we have for the dedication and passion that went into the Pony Coupe concept,” said SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai Design Center.
The interior also has some modern touches but its neo-retro dashboard pays proper homage to the design cues of the original.
This may all seem like interesting stuff, but all that pales in comparison to the powertrain behind this all. The N Vision 74 is propelled by an extremely advanced hydrogen fuel cell system inspired by the Hyundai N Vision Gran Turismo (VGT). Depending on the use case, it will switch between its fuel cell and electric power for maximum effectiveness.
It seems that Hyundai is putting the pedal to the metal when it comes to the N Rolling Lab lineups. When the other iONIQ models come to market around next year onwards, we can expect a similar feature suite on these models.
As of now, the Hyundai i20N WRC is still wreaking havoc on all terrains, while the Elantra and Kona N are gaining positive reviews everywhere they go.
Here are the specs of the N Rolling Lab vehicles.
