Video: Hyundai uses a mid-engine dev hatchback to test new tech

Hyundai has been experimenting with the mid-engine vehicle layout over the past several years already, making sure to tease us from time to time with the latest prototypes from its Racing Midship line.

The first test vehicle – the RM14 – came out in 2014, succeeded by RM15 and RM16 in the years that followed. At the 2019 Los-Angeles Auto Show that concluded a month ago, the company showcased the RM19.

Despite the abundant rumors that Hyundai could be getting a production hatchback ready based on the RM chassis and tech, no such car is in the works (at least, this is what the company itself claims). The way things are right now, the mid-engine prototype serves exclusively as a test platform for various promising new technologies.

For one, the engineering department uses it to test drivetrains in extreme conditions, such as on a racetrack or during constant overload. Later on, the Korean marque intends to start testing various hybrid powertrains – mild hybrids, PHEVs and fuel cell based vehicles. It intends to partner up with Rimac Automobili for the task, a Croatia-based maker of electric supercars.

As for the Hyundai RM19, the hatchback shares the exterior design with the Veloster and measures 4,319 mm (14.17 ft.) long, 1,945 mm (6.38 ft.) wide and 1,354 mm (4.44 ft.) tall with 2,672 mm (8.77 ft.) between the axles. Its road clearance is minimal at 100 millimeters (3.9 inches). The tires measure 245/30 R20 at the front and 305/30 R20 at the rear, and the front brakes have six pistons (the rear ones have four).

The front suspension uses McPherson struts, while the rear multi-link arrangement supports geometrical adjustments.

Powering the RM19 is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine rated at 390 hp (291 kW), which links to a six-speed sequential transmission. The latter sports a racing design that is mostly TCR-compliant, but the gear ratios have been revised to make it more road-friendly.