Hyundai's new mid-engined monster to be the new halo car for go-fast N brand: reports

Hyundai's hardcore, mid-engine performance concept unveiled at the LA Auto Show will make it into production, with plans for a toned-down version expected to hit dealerships. 

That's the word out of the LA Show, from where US publications are reporting production plans for the RM19 Racing Midship have now been confirmed.

The two-door, mid-engined race car for the road is home to a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine producing around 291kW - enough to push the hardcore N car to 60mph (around 98km/h) in "under four seconds". That power is fed through a six-speed sequential gearbox and is funnelled to the rear tyres. 

The engine is lifted from Hyundai's TCR race car, but has been freed from that series' regulations, and so this version is actually more powerful. But the brand also isn't ruling out electrified drivetrains in the future.

Hyundai is also promising "race car-like" levels of performance, grip and handling, only somehow mixed with the comfort of a daily driver.

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“The RM19 sports car signals future brand aspirations for Hyundai’s high-performance N brand, solidly moving N into the prestigious arena of supercar-level performance,” promises Hyundai's head of product, Thomas Schemera.

“Hyundai N will not only increase heartbeats per minute via powerful internal combustion engines, but also through the instantaneous torque and environmental sustainability of electrified powertrains moving forward.”

And it's that "signals future brand aspirations" part that got chins wagging in LA, with US outlet Road and Track quoting company sources who have confirmed the R19 is headed for production. That outlet is reporting that a production version would lose the outrageous aerodynamic gear, but that a mid-engined Hyundai halo car will be coming to a dealership near you.

For now, though, watch this space.