Formed in 2012, the N Brand is Hyundai’s in-house tuning division that specializes in turning normal Hyundai cars into fire-breathing monsters. With a new video that Hyundai has shared on its YouTube channel, it has gone into in-depth detail talking about a future that is a perfect blend of performance tuning and electric power. With the expertise it has gathered over the years participating in various racing championships on different terrains, Hyundai is trying to bring its racing technology to its N models.

There is little denying the fact that EVs are capable of delivering numbers that typical cars running on fossil fuels can’t even dream of. Cars with power outputs of over 1,000HP are, kind of, common now. According to the video recently shared, Hyundai also gave a sneak peek of an N-badged Ioniq 5, the Ioniq 6, the RN22e project, and the N Vision 74 prototype. This made us wonder if Hyundai’s N Brand is on its way to be more exciting than Mercedes’ AMG, or BMW’s M, or Audi’s RS division.

Related: The Real Reason Hyundai N Pulled The Plug On A Mid-Engined Sportscar

What Makes The N Brand So Exciting?

Hyundai N Vision74 Three Quarters Image
Via: Hyundai

To begin with, one of the reasons behind choosing the letter ‘N’ for Hyundai’s performance division is Nürburgring. Exciting enough. Another is Namyang district in South Korea where Hyundai’s Global R&D center is located. Nürburgring is an important part of N Brand’s journey from 2012 till now, as Hyundai’s technical center tests the N vehicles there. This is also why the logo of the N Brand resembles a classic chicane on a racetrack. This was also the team behind developing Hyundai’s i20 WRC race car that participates in the prestigious and unforgiving event that pushes every car to its possible limit.

The RM (Racing Midship) series was introduced to the world in 2014 at the Busan Motor Show with an aluminum space frame, carbon-reinforced plastic, active spoiler, and four-cylinder turbo engine with electric supercharger technology. According to Hyundai, “The RM series was and continues to be a ‘Rolling Lab’ that tests Hyundai’s latest developments for high-performance cars.” In order to bring the motorsports' fun to their production cars, Hyundai continues to experiment with all the data it gathers every year to push its boundaries. The midship design was decided upon after trying various weight distributions for more performance without compromising on agility and the fun quotient. For extracting optimum fun, Hyundai decided to put the engine in the middle of the car and then made all the power go to the rear wheels.

The fact that while testing the RM series Hyundai uses the new tech on their current models in the market makes it more interesting. This helps the folks at N Brand understand and improvise on things like aerodynamics, rear spoiler, and extended air intakes. The lowered front end with an extended hood, slimmer headlamps, and wider air intakes also give the RM models a more purposeful yet aggressive look. The fact that people in various markets around the world can opt for the N models of the current Hyundai models makes it more desirable than other performance badges from many other manufacturers.

Related: 10 Things We Love About The Hyundai RN22e Concept Car

The Future Of N Brand Is More Proimising Than Others

Hyundai N Vision74 Ioniq 5 RN22e Image
Via: Hyundai

This is the spicier bit. The video shared by Hyundai shows two cars – the RN22e, and the N Vision 74 – two electric cars that are expected to change Hyundai’s future in the electric segment. The RN22e will be Hyundai’s first high-performance vehicle that will be based on Hyundai’s E-GMP (Electric-Global Modular Platform). This is also the platform on which the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 will be made. The RN22e will use the latest tech to achieve the three pillars N Brand is known for – Corner Rascal, Racetrack Capability, and Everyday Sports Car. The RN22e will be N Brand’s first four-wheel drive vehicle where two motors will power both the axles at the front and rear of the car.

On the other hand, the N Vision 74 is a hydrogen hybrid ‘rolling lab’ that says a lot about the long-term plans of N Brand. The N Vision 74 will run using a 500kW hydrogen fuel cell powertrain, and claims to have an ultra-fast refueling time of 5 minutes. The design of the N Vision 74 is inspired by Hyundai’s Pony Coupe concept that was unveiled back in 1974 (hence the name N Vision 74). The 500kW hydrogen fuel cell powertrain was first introduced back in 2015 on the N Brand’s first concept vehicle N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo, and N Brand has been developing it for over seven years now. Another interesting bit that the video revealed was a guest appearance by the Ioniq 5 N. This is the first time Hyundai has showed a glimpse of the Ioniq 5 which is seen in the video rolling with the RN22e and N Vision 74.

Commenting on the electrification of N Brand’s future, Till Wartenberg, Vice President of N Brand Management & Motorsport said, “Hyundai N Brand is one of the fastest evolving high-performance brands in the world. All of our plans are on the right track to be carried out in line with our vision for electrification. The success story of rolling labs highlighted by RN22e is a perfect prelude to our N Brand’s very first battery electric production model, the IONIQ 5 N, coming soon.”