In case you haven’t heard, Hyundai has steadily been raising its performance aspirations in the past couple of years. Starting with poaching Albert Biermann, the former head of BMW’s M Division to head its R&D, Hyundai (along with sister company Kia) has set out to catapult itself from an also-ran to near the front of the high-performance vehicle category.

The Kia Stinger, Genesis G70 and Hyundai Veloster N are but a few examples of this endeavor. Hyundai recently unveiled the concept performance mid-engined RM19 at the LA Auto Show, and if it actually makes it to production, it’s bound to set the “hot hatch” segment on fire. To wit:

Mid-Engined Sensibility in a Pocket Rocket

Hyundai has taken the front-wheel drive concept and installed it backwards in the RM19. Basically a rear-drive, mid-engine configuration has been implanted in a hitherto economy FWD coupe, in the mold of the Renault R5 Turbo of yore. This type of out-of-the-box thinking bodes well for the company on the track and on the showroom floor.

360+ Horses in a Stretched Veloster

Although it is far from a certainty to make it to your local dealership, Hyundai is massaging- if not banging on- the fringes of what’s possible in terms of performance in this segment. The 2.0 liter Sonata turbo 4 has been beefed up here with an enormous blower, enough to launch the aggressive-looking hatchback to sensational performance heights.

Sky’s the Limit with Possibilities

This remarkable concept also conveniently lays a foundation for numerous possibilities, including hybrid and/or electric transformation. In light of Hyundai’s recent joint ventures and investment in Rimac, the prolific Croatian electric sports car manufacturer, an electrified mid-engined Veloster is a tantalizing prospect worth getting excited over!