Hyundai is shunning the New York International Auto Show and sticking to home turf for two exciting concept reveals. The Seoul Motor Show got the first sight of the Enduro lifestyle crossover utility vehicle (CUV) concept and the even more interesting Racing Midship 2015 concept, otherwise known as the RM15.
Exterior
Let's start with the Enduro, which is an aggressive-looking thing. It features a new interpretation of Hyundai's hexagonal front grille, while there's an 'aluminium aero blade' that sweeps forward from the front black plastic wheelarch to the aforesaid grille. The Enduro has raised ground clearance but a low centre of gravity, while black plastic cladding can been seen along its lower portions. The C-pillars feature an aerodynamic air-blade to reduce drag and at the rear, the lights flow from the side pillars into the spoiler.
The lightweight RM15 is a bit more exotic. It has an aluminium spaceframe structure with carbon fibre reinforced panels, which strips 195kg out of it if compared to the same car built in steel (the RM15 weighs 1,260kg). If you look closely under the WRC i20-inspired blue, black and red livery, you might notice it's a Veloster coupe, although it's unlike any Veloster we've ever known. It has a 43:57 front-to-rear weight balance, a centre of gravity a mere 491mm above the deck, 24kg of downforce at 200km/h and 19-inch monoblock forged alloy wheels. Factor in a torsional rigidity of 37,800Nm per degree and you have to say 'wow'.
Interior
We can't tell you much about the RM15's interior, save to say it only has two seats and a fully integrated roll-cage as well. So let's switch back to the Enduro, which is said to have a cabin that 'creates an emotional concept that expresses sensuality and dynamism, through organically interacting lines'. Nope, us neither. It's basically upmarket and sporty in here, and will sort of preview how Hyundai cabins might look in the next two years or so... but it's about as likely to make it to production unchanged as it would be to find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Mechanicals
Neither car lets you down on this score, although the RM15 is the more appealing to the enthusiast. It uses the 2.0-litre T-GDI four-cylinder turbocharged petrol, here making 300hp and 6,000rpm and 383Nm at just 2,000rpm. Driving the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission, the RM15 can rip from 0-100km/h in a scant 4.7 seconds. Other delights include integrated sub-frames front and rear, and aluminium double wishbone suspension all round.
The Enduro uses the same T-GDI petrol, although its output is unconfirmed at this stage, and it is mated to the company's new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. It does use some classic concept car tricks, though, such as side- and rear-view cameras replacing the door mirrors.
Anything else?
No word yet on whether either of these will be made but we hope to whichever deity is out there that the RM15 gets an unlikely green light. Imagine a lightweight, mid-engined, rear-wheel drive Veloster, undercutting the likes of the Volkswagen Golf R on price. Now that would be nice.