HYUNDAI'S EPIC RN24 ROLLING LAB TESTED AT 10/10THS!
Electric cars still have motoring fanatics divided, there are those that think they’re the answer to saving the planet and improving performance, and then there are those who think they’re soulless things that take away the very essence of driving. There are also the arguments that the ingredients for batteries harm the planet more than mining for fossil fuels does, but that’s not what this is all about. So far EVs have progressed at a stupendously fast rate, the technology being pumped into electric power by niche automakers and the largest manufacturers is second to none. Budgets for EV tech have increased exponentially, and the result is more affordable EVs, better range and power that can make petrol-powered cars look tame in comparison. With EVs supplying instantaneous power, many acceleration records now belong to electric cars. In the hypercar leagues, the Rimac Nevera has racked up no less than 23 acceleration records, including one for doing 275.74 km/h - in reverse. Purists think that a car needs to have an internal combustion motor that revs and makes noises and produces all sorts of drama. EVs are too quiet, even though they’re quick. Car fanatics that are all about speed are more accepting, and it’s now commonplace to see an EV like a Tesla at a US drag strip giving seriously modified cars a hard time. While many automakers are all about range and performance, one of them seems to be all about fun - Hyundai.
The Hyundai IONIQ N is probably the most fun EV that’s been created to date. We’ve seen it (on YouTube because we’re never gonna get it in SA) being taken around loads of different racetracks at the hands of every motoring journo with his or her salt. Watching Misha Charoudin hoon one around Nurburgring is amazing, the way the car handles is great, especially when everyone out there thinks EVs are too heavy to do track things. To help get the best out of their tech, Hyundai N created the RN24, a rolling laboratory, and it’s awesome. Hyundai took the motorsport-calibre 485 kW dual-motor system from the IONIQ 5 N and scaled it down to fit a more compact, agile platform, resulting in a nimble B-segment-sized powerhouse built for N-thusiasts. It’s not only about raw speed - RN24 is crafted for ultimate precision and drivability, with a redesigned 84 kWh battery and a shorter wheelbase for a more responsive feel on the road. It features a rally-style suspension, subframes with intense rigidity, and rally-spec dampers that keep it agile, while a WRC Powertrain Drive Control Logic system allows drivers to adjust power, regenerative braking, and torque settings from the steering wheel. Hyundai’s Rally Mode torque control, inspired by the i20 N Rally1, optimizes torque distribution across all four wheels. Combined with an innovative e-Handbrake, RN24 cuts weight by ditching hydraulic systems and introducing electronically controlled braking. The exterior features a WRC-style roll cage, Elantra N forged wheels, and a TCR-inspired spoiler for enhanced aero and stability. Meanwhile, 3D-printed gussets boost rigidity while shaving off weight. Now watch Top Gear’s Jethro Bovingdon give it a good old thrashing.
Take a look at the YouTube video that shows off just how cool the Hyundai RN24, a.k.a the Rolling Lab is. This skeleton of an EV is used to test all the latest and great tech from Hyundai's N Division, an outfit that's proving that EVs can be as fun, if not more fun, than their gas-powered counterparts: FIRST DRIVE: Hyundai RN24 – An Ioniq 5 N on Steroids! | Top Gear
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