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2021 Hyundai Veloster RM19 Mid-Engined Prototype Spied, Is Crazy

Hyundai has this crazy, confusing idea that it just doesn't want to give up on: a mid-engined sports car of some kind; any kind. This test prototype of what's been dubbed the Veloster RM19 has been spied undergoing hardcore testing at the Nurburgring.
2021 Hyundai Veloster RN19 Mid-Engined Prototype Spied, Is Crazy 16 photos
Photo: YouTube screenshot/SB-Medien
2021 Hyundai Veloster RM19 Mid-Engined Prototype Spied, Is Crazy2021 Hyundai Veloster RM19 Mid-Engined Prototype Spied, Is Crazy2021 Hyundai Veloster RM19 Mid-Engined Prototype Spied, Is Crazy2021 Hyundai Veloster RM19 Mid-Engined Prototype Spied, Is Crazy2021 Hyundai Veloster RM19 Mid-Engined Prototype Spied, Is Crazy2021 Hyundai Veloster RM19 Mid-Engined Prototype Spied, Is Crazy2021 Hyundai Veloster RM19 Mid-Engined Prototype Spied, Is Crazy2021 Hyundai Veloster RM19 Mid-Engined Prototype Spied, Is Crazy2021 Hyundai Veloster RM19 Mid-Engined Prototype Spied, Is Crazy2021 Hyundai Veloster RM19 Mid-Engined Prototype Spied, Is Crazy2021 Hyundai Veloster RM19 Mid-Engined Prototype Spied, Is Crazy2021 Hyundai Veloster RM19 Mid-Engined Prototype Spied, Is Crazy2021 Hyundai Veloster RM19 Mid-Engined Prototype Spied, Is Crazy2021 Hyundai Veloster RM19 Mid-Engined Prototype Spied, Is Crazy2021 Hyundai Veloster RM19 Mid-Engined Prototype Spied, Is Crazy
Why RM19? Well, there's been a bunch of similar machines before. There was 2014's RM14, the RM15 concept that followed a year after and the RM16 N from... well, you get it. So you see, Hyundai has been toying with the idea ever since the first generation, and people have a hard time understanding why.

Getting back to the latest batch of spyshots, these show the familiar shape at the Nurburgring test track where all the hot action happens. At a glance, this looks just like the Veloster N TCR race car which was revealed this January in Detroit. However, there are some key differences.

For example, the central grille is mostly blocked off by a large carbon fiber insert. The two small vents in the hood have been replaced by a rectangular duct, which is probably there to push the front down, not cool the engine... which isn't there.

A glance at the rear section will reveal vents on the windows, which are the main indication that a powerplant now sits behind the driver. The sneaky Hyundai engineers also fitted a gigantic diffuser at the back, while the wing is pulled from the TCR.

So what's back there? Well, the RN16 N concept featured a 2-liter turbo pumping out 300 horsepower and 380 Nm (283 lb-ft). That was amazing in 2016 when there was no production N car, but we want more. Various rumors over the years talked about a V6, a 350 HP 2-liter and the 2.5-liter turbo being developed for Genesis. There's the small matter of Hyundai investing $90 million in Rimac a few months ago, giving rise to EV sports car speculations.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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