Historically speaking, Hyundai is not an automaker that has been closely associated with performance. However, the South Korean company has made huge strides to change that in recent years, recruiting top performance car engineers from around the industry and releasing well-received performance offerings like the i30 N and Veloster N hatchbacks. That’s not to mention its highly successful touring car programs and championship-winning WRC team, either.
So far, Hyundai has not released any vehicles that compete with General Motors products, but the automaker is hoping to target the mid-engine Corvette C8 with one of its next performance offerings. The company is currently working on a mid-engine sports car platform that would be spread across the Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands. The new platform will be able to accommodate different types of powertrains, including internal combustion, hybrid, electric and fuel cell.
Engine bay of mid-engine Hyundai RM19N prototype
Speaking to Car and Driver, Hyundai’s executive vice president for product and strategy, Thomas Schemera, explained that a content-rich Genesis variant of the mid-engine sports car would be perfectly positioned to compete with the Corvette, as it will be similarly priced and equipped.
“It would be challenging to make such a car affordable at $35,000 to $40,000,” Schemera said, explaining the challenges of selling a potential mid-engine model under the budget Hyundai and Kia brands. “It makes the most sense for Genesis, at $50,000 to $80,000. This could be a strategy to compete with the Corvette, but it hasn’t been decided yet.”
Hyundai has actually already developed the mid-engine platform and even let Car and Driver have a go in an early prototype last year called the RM19N, which was based on the existing Veloster N TCR race car. The automaker described the prototype as “a test bed, a rolling lab,” but it did confirm that it will spawn a production model eventually. Whether or not said model will pull any buyers away from the Corvette C8 remains to be seen, but based on Schemera’s statements, the automaker does seem to be targeting Corvette-like performance for the Genesis model.
With a 490-horsepower 6.2L LT2 V8 engine and an approachable price tag of $59,995, it’s difficult to ignore the Corvette C8’s incredible value. We believe this will be the hard part for Hyundai to match. While Hyundai has already proven itself to be more than capable of producing an impressive performance car, it may find it challenging to match or beat the Vette in both price as well as performance. That said, we’re eager to see what the company is cooking up – the world could always do with more mid-engine performance cars, if you ask us.
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Comments
Competition improves the breed and if more companies jump in the mid-engine sports car business, it will force General Motors and Chevrolet to not sit on their laurels like they have done for years and become continue to develop the C8 Corvette and enhance it’s overall performance envelope.
Live to dream, Cadillac borrowing the C8 Corvette’s chassis to bring their Cien mid-engine concept car to production with a slight difference as the Cadillac would be at minimum twice as expensive as the Corvette because it would make extensive usage of composite structural components and a 1,000 hp engine.
germans are basically running the show over at hyundai. it would be great to see what they come up with.
If Hyundai does decide to compete it will likely take several generations of cars to get up to Corvette or others sports car level.
maybe but they’ve made remarkable progress across their entire line up over the last few years.
but it does seem that a new mid-engine ICE vehicle is a little late in the game right now. i think this is just an r&d experiment.
rather than play catch up with the new corvette, bring out a pure EV sports car with super car mid-engine proportions. south korean industry has shown they can do batteries, electronics and now cars. all of the ingredients are there for them to do that.
This car so far has been testing a 4 cylinder turbo. This is more of a poor man’s Boxster than a Corvette.
While the Boxster is in the Corvette price range it is not really a Corvette competitor either.
The Corvette is in a class of its own as it hits well above its price range in performance and offerings. It also has a heritage that has generated a large following where owners not only own one but many own more than one.
The Hyundai may be a fun car and affordable car that could do well if priced low. But like the RWD coupe they did that was to dominate the Camaro and Mustang it was largely forgotten and not missed.
It is a neat idea and may sell in low numbers but Hyundai can market it much like the Miata and with more power make it interesting. But even if it makes market it will be 10 years or less kind of car. Even Mazda had to partner with Fiat to make the Miata live.
GM is in a spot where they have something going with the Corvette that is difficult to reproduce. Being able to get away with a mass produced engine in the car is a real bonus.
You can forget about GM doing a 15 year old Cadillac Show car. Cadillac has its own issues and the C8 will do just fine.
Cadillac has enough problems trying to find buyers for a $200K EV sedan. I am not sure of the wisdom there…….. I hope it works but I am not that optimistic.
Oh, yeah!
Cancel my order for a C8 convertible.
I want one of those Hyundai’s,
Sure……..!
Just resurrect the ’88 Fiero GT with a few improvements and put a turbo on the 2.8 V6.
Couple Problems. One the Fiero is Dead. Two Pontiac is dead. Three the 2.8 even with a a turbo is way under powered
How do I know I have my original Fiero V6 out in the garage right now. I love my car but if given the choice the C8 is the car to buy. There will be a C8 next to it as some point.
You have one of the greatest Mid Engine bargains in the world now from GM so just enjoy it.
Northstar’s went into that car fine!
Everchange a head gasket on one. Then change it on a Fiero? Not fun.
The LS V8 right now is the easiest and best swap. They are cheap to buy and reliable. THe all aluminum build makes them not much heavier than the 2.8.
The LNF turbo is the most interesting as it makes the car lighter but you do have to deal with Turbo heat issues that kill the electronics.
Still better to just give it a couple years and buy a low mile C8 with so much more to offer and much better sorted than a home made build on a 36 year old car.
You make a Fiero faster then you need bigger brakes. Then you have to put bigger tires and wheels on to cover them. Then you have to replace the control arms as the bigger brakes pull the ball joints out etc. Been there seen it and picked up the pieces of buddies who have done this.
20 years ago where was Hyundai and where was GM? Anyone that doesn’t take the Koreans seriously is a fool….