Hyundai Ioniq 6 N RN22e electric concept revealed

UPDATE: Now we've driven it!

It's not every day that a brand makes its concept cars properly driveable, let alone offering the opportunity for media to experience it. But, as a preview of its 2024 motorsport plans, the Ioniq 6-based RN22e is no ordinary concept. Get our review story at the link below.

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July: RN22e concept revealed

Hyundai has revealed an aggressive pure-electric concept that hints at a second EV to join the growing N performance family.

Unveiled at the Busan Motor Show in South Korea, the RN22e previews what will follow the company’s first production electric N – the Ioniq 5 N – which has now been confirmed for 2023.

But, while the Ioniq 5 N offers plus-size hatchback practicality and aesthetics, the new concept takes the company into bold territory with an elegant ‘streamliner’ based on the freshly revealed Ioniq 6 coupe-profiled sedan.

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It takes the E-GMP underpinnings of its Ioniq 5 N sibling, but clothes it in an enhanced body taken from the Ioniq 6 for a version with serious zero-emissions punch.

With electric motors on both axles, the RN22e produces a combined power output of 430kW and 740Nm, fed by a 77.4kWh battery. No claims have been made regarding the concept’s acceleration performance, but Hyundai says a top speed of more than 250km/h is possible, while its 800-volt electrical system will allow a 10 per cent to 80 per cent charge in less than 18 minutes.

Those figures match the power and torque outputs of the mechanically almost identical Kia EV6 GT exactly, which has also recently been confirmed and will crack 260km/h, according to Hyundai’s sister brand.

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Hyundai has not detailed if or what the concept will evolve into, but the Ioniq 6 N would be a very safe bet, providing a sibling to the Ioniq 5 N at a point after its arrival in 2023. “Hyundai can hone and perfect its advanced technologies to launch a mass-production electric N model utilising the potential of E-GMP,” it said.

If you needed any more convincing, the company has also revealed that it will hit the track in the ETCR racing series next year with the Ioniq 6 ETCR. This all but confirms a road version will result.

Either way, the company promises that an electrified vehicle is more than capable of honouring the N brand mantra that it introduced seven years ago and the RN22e has the same high-performance credentials as previous N models.

Hyundai stopped short of describing a full ‘drift mode’ for the vehicle but has confirmed the infinitely variable all-wheel drive system has various driving modes that “allow drivers to choose the torque power on the front and rear wheels.”

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Like the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 and Porsche Taycan, the RN22e generates a synthesised N Sound Plus soundtrack for ears both inside and outside of the cabin, providing a ‘dynamic driving feel’ along with vibration and simulated gear shifts felt by the driver.

While the exterior takes the Ioniq 6 as a starting point, the concept adds to the slippery aerodynamics with more performance-enhancing hardware such as a reduced ride-height, fattened arches and track. The revised body also increases cooling for the performance-enhanced drivetrain.

An evolution of the ‘corner carving’ e-LSD allows the RN22e to gain the ‘corner rascal’ dynamics imparted to other N cars with specially developed twin-clutch torque vectoring, but more detail surrounding the company’s innovation is yet to be communicated.

There’s also extensive use of 3D-printed components allowing the overall weight to be reduced, although Hyundai says the car still has “invariably heavier weight”, but engineers worked with the yet-to-be specified mass rather than trying to hide it.

Four-piston front calipers provide the most aggressive braking on track along with 400 millimetre front rotors, but Hyundai is using the concept to explore how regenerative braking can be best applied in the high-performance context.

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With its new electric N heroes emerging, the company has its sights set on arguably the most challenging and coveted performance car benchmark of them all.

“There’s no EV that can do one lap of the Nürburgring in 100 per cent performance,” said N Brand management and motorsport vice president Till Wartenberg. “This is what we’d like to tackle”.

The approach is in keeping with the company’s longstanding Rolling Lab research program, which uses concept and design study cars to develop new technology that will eventually find its way into production models.

If you were wondering, the R in its name represents the Rolling Lab research cars, N stands for the Namyang proving ground, 22 is the year the concept was revealed and e is its electrified drivetrain.