The demand for carbon neutrality for a sustainable future is growing day by day, and many automakers are joining in; New electric vehicles are unveiled every year, and their sales are growing rapidly. However, there are people who are concerned about the spread of electric vehicles - enthusiasts doubt whether electric vehicles can deliver the exhilaration and emotion of what a high-performance internal combustion engine could offer.

As N brand aims to build an 'everyday sports car' with dynamic cornering capabilities as well as racetrack capability, the brand is moving forward to minimize enthusiasts’ concerns; Even in the electric era, N brand will pursue the exhilarating pleasures of high-performance cars and pour its energy into developing the brand’s 3 product pillars : Corner Rascal, Race Track Capability, Everyday Sports Car. The RN22e shows how N brand is maintaining driving fun in the high-performance electric vehicle which will be unveiled next year.

RN22e: Rolling lab combining motorsport technology with E-GMP

The RN22e is the latest work of Rolling lab, a future high-performance car research and development project.

The RN22e is the next-generation Rolling lab series following the RM project, which started in 2012. The Rolling lab tests and verifies high-performance technology inspired by motorsports such as WRC, WTCR, and ETCR before incorporating it into mass-produced N models. This has served as a steppingstone for Hyundai to mass-produce advanced high-performance technologies. Examples of high-performance technologies perfected by the RM project include E-LSD, 8-speed wet N DCT, and rear spoiler - housed by several current N models such as Veloster N, Kona N, and Elantra N.

The RM project has been the foundation for developing high-performance N models since its establishment in 2012.

In 2014, the RM Project began to draw attention with its first prototype, the RM14. The RM - Racing Midship, meaning the most suitable configuration for sports driving - project has since released RM15, RM16, RM19. Then the first electrified prototype, RM20e, was showcased in 2020 and continued to use the original code name; This year, N brand announced its electrified vision along with the renewal of the Rolling lab series : RN22e. The name ‘RM’ changed into the ‘RN’ project by combining the 'R' of the Rolling lab and the 'N' of the N brand. The number indicates the year of manufacture, and the 'e' indicates the electric technology.

The RN22e is the first rolling lab based on E-GMP, Hyundai‘s dedicated electric vehicle platform.

You can tell from its birth that the RN22e is different from the other RM projects. Unlike the RM20e with a midship structure that housed electric technology for the first time, the RN22e is based on E-GMP, Hyundai’s electric global modular platform that incorporates technologies such as 800V high voltage system and front wheels’ EV transmission disconnector technology. RN22e also incorporated all the high-performance know-hows from the past RM projects. This is how RN22e became the first Rolling lab to feature all-wheel drive with front and rear electric motors that feature powerful performance. Also, unlike the Veloster's face, which was common to current RM projects, the RN22e has the looks of Hyundai's second dedicated electric vehicle, the IONIQ 6.

The RN22e utilizes the exterior design of the IONIQ 6 optimized for aerodynamic performance.

The RN22e also used the body of the IONIQ 6 to take advantage of its aerodynamic performance. IONIQ 6 with a sleek and streamlined design is not only the best among all Hyundai models, but also shows the most ideal aerodynamic performance (CD 0.218) among its mass-produced models. And based on the design of the IONIQ 6 with optimal aerodynamic performance, the RN22e is supported by an ideal aerodynamic design, such as wheel air curtains, a rear spoiler as wide as the vehicle width, and a huge rear diffuser. This makes it possible to concentrate on the software development that can control the electric powertrain while driving at the limit.

In addition, RN22e houses the know-hows from all different aspects. The experience from ETCR (electric touring car race) motorsports collects data on EV driving under harsh condition, and the past RM project houses know-hows on how to test and develop the motorsports inspired technologies. Finally, the E-GMP developed through IONIQ 5 & 6 allows the RN22e to concentrate solely on developing cutting-edge technology. This means that the RN22e is not only equipped with a powerful electric motor and large-capacity battery, but also aims to develop a high-performance electric vehicle from the beginning of its development. This shows the N brand's willingness to provide driving pleasure with the three pillars - Corner Rascal, Race Track Capability, and Everyday Sports Car - even in the electrification era.

RN22e: A high-performance electric vehicle that offers a new level of cornering performance

The RN22e even drifts, based on the N brand's first all-wheel drive.

The RN22e, equipped with the N brand's first four-wheel drive system, utilizes electric motors mounted one at the front and the other at the rear wheel. The maximum output of the electric motor is 160kW at the front and 270kW at the rear, making a total of 430kW (about 580 horsepower), and a maximum torque 740Nm (about 75.5kgf·m). As a result, the vehicle can offer exhilarating cornering experience.

The RN22e utilizes the front-wheel EV transmission disconnector technology, one of the E-GMP-specific technologies that allows power distribution on the front/rear. This power distribution technology is further developed with the know-hows from WRC, where four-wheel drive rally cars get to drive on harsh conditions. As a result, this technology quickly switches between four-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive by disconnecting the front-wheel motor according to the driving situation, enabling driving thrill.

The RN22e has advanced torque vectoring technology housed on the rear wheel, the main drive shaft.

In the RN22e, other advanced technologies are also housed - not only the front and rear drive power distribution, but also the drive power of the main drive shaft, the rear wheel, to the left and right. It is the torque vectoring (e-TVTC) technology that distributes driving force to the left and right rear wheels while attaching and detaching the twin clutch of the rear electric motor. The e-TVTC can send all the driving power to only one of the left and right rear wheels, offering such effects of what e-LSD does with the internal combustion engine N models : it properly and promptly distributes the driving power to the left and right wheels when cornering, helping to get out of corners more dramatically. With this torque vectoring technology, the RN22e overcomes the physical limit of electric vehicles, which tend to understeer out of corners due to its weight, and makes driving performance more dynamic. In addition, when the twin clutch of the rear wheel is disconnected, inertia driving is possible, which increases efficiency. RN22e's e-TVTC will continue to develop software in various driving environments in the future.

The RN22e utilizes E-GMP with a low center of gravity and front-to-rear weight distribution design to realize dynamic cornering performance.

Thanks to E-GMP’s low center of gravity through the placement of front/rear electric motors and batteries at the bottom of the vehicle, the front and rear weight is distributed ideally. In addition, the E-GMP incorporates WRC-inspired IDA (Integrated Drive Axle that combined the drive shaft and the wheel bearing) to reduce weight and increase lateral stiffness. Moreover, it uses a roll cage and a separate rear partition panel to enhance body rigidity and 3D printed aluminum parts to reduce weight. As a result, RN22e ultimately overcomes the physical limit of EVs and supports the cornering performance of RN22e.

The race track capability of RN22e for endless driving pleasure

The RN22e has been developed with a focus on cooling and aerodynamics for maximum performance on the track.

One of the R&D objectives of the RN22e as a Rolling lab is to enhance its cooling and aerodynamic performance. As commonly known for the high-performance cars, the aerodynamics greatly affects driving stability, fuel efficiency, and sound. It is also important to properly control the heat generated by the internal combustion engine. Likewise, electric vehicles also need to shape the driving wind to their advantage and use air and coolant to manage the heat in the battery- especially for high-performance EV. RN22e’s EV specific cooling system is developed with know-hows Hyundai has accumulated over years of motorsport experience with Veloster N ETCR and with RM20e, the previous electrified Rolling lab. RN22e will continue to update its aerodynamic performance data through motorsport.

The RN22e features battery pre-conditioning function to maintain battery performance before and after track driving.

In particular, the cooling design plays an important role for RN22e to allow the drivers to enjoy longer track driving. Since battery temperature hugely affects EV’s performance, the battery pre-conditioning function is housed in the RN22e to optimize battery condition before and after entering the track for maximum performance. It raises the battery temperature to the optimal level to maximize performance before entering the track and lowers the battery temperature after track driving to enable fast charging using E-GMP's 800V high voltage system. As a result, the RN22e charges its 77.4 kWh battery from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes. In addition, for more efficient battery thermal management, the electric motor and battery have independent cooling systems, and a wider front intake to improve cooling performance.

The RN22e's brake system is capable of withstanding driving at the limit on the track.

Another key for RN22e’s consistent performance on the racetrack is the braking performance. In general, electric vehicles are heavier than internal combustion engines because of their heavy batteries, hence bigger inertia. If such a heavy vehicle suddenly brakes just before entering a corner, the load on the brake system increases due to the increased kinetic energy. Then, not only will it become difficult to mark the ideal record, but it could also cause brake fade, a sharp decrease in braking ability. To prevent this, the RN22e uses high-performance friction material pads used in the N model, 4-piston monobloc calipers, and 400mm hybrid discs. In addition, the N brand is developing a regen braking technology optimized for high-performance electric vehicles so that it can attack corners faster and more aggressively.

RN22e: A high-performance electric car that makes everyday life exhilarating

RN22e delivers the sound of a high-performance car that stimulates the driver's emotions suitable for electric vehicles.

The RN22e is not only packed with technology that offers dynamic performance on the racetrack, but also makes everyday life enjoyable and exhilarating - like a sound system. Sound is an emotional domain of high-performance cars that stimulate the driver's emotions, but it is difficult for electric vehicles without engine and exhaust sounds to provide such sensibility. The N brand, which pursues the pure pleasure of driving, uses the N Sound Plus function in the RN22e so that drivers can enjoy the driving experience according to their taste and atmosphere. Currently, the RN22e has implemented a sound that embodies the emotion of a high-performance internal combustion engine, and the N e-shift function delivers a sense of shift that matches the sound of a high-performance car through vibration. The N Sound Plus will continuously be developed to suit the tastes of various drivers, and it is planned to provide a new driving experience in the mass-produced model.

The RN22e was developed for optimal performance in a variety of driving environments on and off the track.

In addition to the e-TVTC, another advanced technology Hyundai is developing with the RN22e is the smart leveling suspension system. The goal is to enable both daily comfort and dynamic driving on the track by using the concept of air suspension, which is used in luxury cars for comfort. It can lift the car body to prevent damage to the underside when passing ramps and speed bumps and lowers the car body to improve aerodynamic performance by lowering the center of gravity on the track. It is being developed to provide performance suitable for various driving environments by adjusting not only the height but also the compression and rebound of the suspension.

RN22e shows the vision of the N brand

The RN22e holds a clue to the high-performance electrified N model to be launched in 2023

These various new technologies featured in RN22e are expected to be housed in the high-performance electrified N model to be released in 2023 after several tests and verification on the road. Of course, as the N brand has done so far, various new technologies through this process may be applied in general mass-produced models as well.

Not all technologies researched and developed through the Rolling lab necessarily lead to mass production, but it is good just to imagine that the thrill of driving can continue in the future electric vehicle era. The N brand knows this better than anyone, and will never give up its effort and passion for driving pleasure.