Hyundai is developing an internal combustion engine (ICE) that’s set to be mid-mounted, a layout common in exotic sports car from brands including Ferrari, Lamborghini, and even the more humble old Toyota MR2, which is mooted for a return.
The Korean auto brand has never offered a mid-engined model, but it has produced several ‘Racing Midship’ (RM) branded sports car concepts since 2014 (including the electrified RM20e pictured below), based on the Veloster and incorporating mid-mounted turbocharged engines and rear-wheel drive.
But now in a YouTube video posted by the Hyundai Motor Group, a researcher from the company’s engine design team, Daehee Kim, has confirmed that an ‘MR’ – which stands for mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive – powertrain is being developed, which would be a first for the brand.
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‘Mid-mounted’ (or mid-ship) refers to a vehicle which has its engine entirely between the front and rear axles, which brings weight distribution advantages and better driving dynamics, such as in the Porsche Cayman. The most common form of mechanical layout for road cars is front-engined, while some cars – most famously the Porsche 911 – have an engine over the rear axle.
“We’re currently developing the MR engine,” confirmed Mr Kim in the video clip. “The MR engine is a completely new engine, and its design and configuration is quite different from any other engine.
“It’s a high-speed, high-performance engine, so we’re facing a lot of challenges. However, we are gradually establishing a direction with our seniors.
“Our team’s goal is to develop an engine that meets the performance requirements of the market, and mass produce it without any problems. This requires a disciplined approach to not overlooking even the smallest details.”
The clip confirms that despite the MR program dating back more than a decade, it has not been abandoned – despite the Hyundai group’s headlong assault on the electric vehicle (EV) market, including with high-performance N-badged model variants like the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6.
The new engine has been described by Hyundai as one “that has never existed before” and which has a “very different” layout, suggesting it will power a new sports car that’s yet to be revealed.
Based on this, it’s clear Hyundai is not referring to the twin-turbo V8 engine the company is working on for its 2026 Genesis Magma Le Mans racer – the GMR-001 Hypercar – which has not officially been confirmed to spawn a road-going model.
Magma is the high-performance arm of Genesis – Hyundai’s premium sister brand.
As part of the 2030 Vision business strategy it announced in September 2025, Hyundai Motor Group confirmed a global sales target of 5.5 million annual vehicle sales by the end of this decade, including 3.3 million electrified vehicles (EVs and hybrids).
The latter number will also include extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) from 2027, with the Genesis targeting 350,000 annual sales comprising a mix of EVs, EREVs, and hybrids (HEVs).
Plans for Hyundai’s high-performance N division include seven models, which may see a new i20 N hybrid hot hatch introduced after the next-generation light hatch arrives in showrooms in 2026.
