Watch (& Listen To) Hyundai’s Electric Racecar Rip Around The Track
Many are used to silence from EVs. Without the constant humming or growling of multiple combustion chambers firing off in just the right order, there’s just not that much to hear — or is there?
Electric motors are actually not that quiet. We’ve heard them all our lives in drills, circular saws, and even the remote control cars we played with as kids. The truth is that most EVs come with a fair amount of soundproofing to give them a quieter sound that sets them apart from gas and diesel cars.
Hyundai appears to be heading in a different direction with its experimental Veloster N ETCR. Not only does it sound much like a Formula E car on the track, but it’s also set up with a big electric motor mounted in the middle of the car. Unlike other gas Velosters, this one’s motor drives the rear wheels, making for a formidable track-carving machine.
Details are still thin, but in a press release, Hyundai reveals that the vehicle is very different from previous Hyundai racing vehicles, with a double wishbone rear suspension. Power levels, battery capacity, battery placement, and anything else about what lies beneath the sheet metal is a mystery to everybody but Hyundai’s racing engineers and team at this point.
What we do know is that the car is based on Hyundai’s experience doing Touring Car Racing (TCR), and that the company is looking to expand into the upcoming Electric Touring Car races, which is why the car is called the Veloster N ETCR.
Hyundai Motorsport Team Director Andrea Adamo said: “We have shown with the i30 N TCR and Veloster N TCR that we can produce a very strong Touring Car, but now we have a lot to learn about this new package before the racing starts in 2020. The next few months will be very busy – we essentially have two challenges; we have to develop the chassis, but also learn to use the power from the batteries and motors effectively. However, with the testing schedule ahead I am confident that our engineers will be able to produce another race winning car.”
As testing continues, Hyundai will likely start releasing more information on the car’s specifications and performance. It’s also important to note that automakers often debut new technologies and packages in small numbers within their racing programs, and then go on to improve these technologies further for production.
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