Mid-Engine Hyundai Hatchback

Generally speaking, we’re not too interested in car news that emerges from Korea. They’re safe, sell well, reliable, and about as interesting as watching paint dry or sorting your sock drawer. However, when Hyundai lifted the lid earlier this week on a mid-engine, rear wheel drive hatchback with 220kW/380Nm, we were mildly interested. Hyundai reliability and 220kW is an intriguing proposition.

The RM16 uses a 2.0L four-cylinder turbocharged engine and putting it where you’d expect to find the back seats. The concept car that takes the shape of the popular Veloster features a chassis made from space frame material to make it more rigid and reduce weight.

The RM16 concept doesn’t make any great mechanical leaps from its predecessors, instead, it builds on the idea and evolving the design. The RM16 features an electronically controlled limited slip differential, speed sensitive electric rear wing and a variable sport’s exhaust- all features normally associated with high-performance sports cars.

The RM16 is the latest offering from Hyundai’s N Division, the firm’s version of Mercedes AMG or BMW M Models, that is set to ramp up production over the coming years in a bid to take a slice of the practical performance pie.

The N treatment is expected to be applied to a number of Hyundai’s popular models over the coming month that should boost sales and introduce the Korean company to a new, younger demographic of car buyers.