Hyundai Motor N line up: Born in Namyang, honed at Nürburgring
The Hyundai i30 N is Hyundai Motor’s first high-performance model under the N line up.
The ‘N’ stands for Namyang, Hyundai Motor’s global R&D Centre in Korea, where the idea was born, and for the Nürburgring, home to Hyundai Motor’s European Test Centre, where the N line upwas further developed and tested. The close connection between Namyang and Nürburgring created the foundation for N, the goal being to deliver driving enjoyment. Symbolising a chicane, the ‘N’ logo embodies this aspect – an agile vehicle that is fun to drive – and represents the ultimate driving experience on winding roads.
Inspired by Motorsport - the proven track record of Hyundai
Born at the start of 2013 and based in Alzenau, Germany, Hyundai Motorsport was set up to develop a long-term motor sport programme that demonstrates the emotion and engineering which Hyundai puts into its cars. For the last four years Hyundai Motorsport has participated successfully in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), regarded as one of the most challenging and diverse motor sport disciplines:
2013:
- Launch of i20 WRC.
2014:
- Re-entry to the World Rally Championship
- With i20 WRC Hyundai Motorsport takes four podiums and finishes WRC in fourth position in the manufacturer standings.
2015:
- Launch of the Hyundai high performance N line up at Frankfurt Motorshow with the concept cars N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo and RM15.
- Hyundai takes four podiums and finishes WRC in third position.
2016:
- Launch of high-performance racing concepts RM16 at Busan Motor Show and RN30 at Paris Motor Show.
- Hyundai takes seven podiums and finishes WRC in second position.
2017:
- The dawn of a new era in the sport with the introduction of new technical regulations resulting in more distinctive, powerful and dramatic-looking WRC cars.
- Launch of Hyundai’s first mass-produced high-performance car i30 N.
- Hyundai takes six podiums in half of the season and currently ranks second in WRC drivers and team rankings.
Hyundai’s high-performance concepts have been derived during the development of WRC cars. That is why the WRC is considered to be the cradle of the N line up, thus for the i30 N. During the races, with cars competing on roads of gravel, tarmac, snow and ice, the Hyundai Motor engineers identify further refinement and potential performance enhancements for the i30 N.
Nürburgring Testing Center
The Nürburgring Nordschleife was and continues to be used to hone N’s high-performance technologies. This year, the iconic Nürburgring race track turns 90 and is known as one of the world’s most challenging race tracks. With 73 corners and 20.8 kilometres of tarmac, it is also a motorsports complex and home to Hyundai Motor’s own 3,600 square metre testing centre, operated by the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center. Hyundai Motor’s accelerated durability tests are conducted there. Each car taking part in the tests laps the Nürburgring 420 to 480 times in both dry and wet conditions, simulating up to 180,000 km of severe driving –the equivalent of a normal vehicle’s lifecycle – in just four weeks.
Namyang R&D Center: Birthplace of the i30 N
Opened in 1995 in Hwaseong, South Korea, and employing 13,000 researchers, the Namyang R&D Center is the heart of Hyundai Motor’s global R&D network and the birthplace of the new i30 N. Located on over 3.3 million square metres of land, it consists of various centres for design and engineering, power train, performance and test driving, an aero-acoustic wind tunnel, and environmental R&D. It is host to 34 roads, including a Belgian road, and a high-speed track that is 4.5 km long. In all, the site features a total road length of 70 km. The i30 N’s great road holding is the result of months of testing the aerodynamics at Hyundai’s Namyang Technology Research Centre in Korea and in the wind tunnel.
Produced in Europe
The i30 N will be produced at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech in Nošovice (HMMC). The facility opened in 2008 and started production of the first generation i30 the same year. It has an annual production capacity of 350,000 cars and fulfils the highest quality standards to meet European customers’ expectations. The HMMC facility also features a 3.3 km open test track on the factory grounds, ensuring that every vehicle is tested for dynamic properties, noise and functions, along with a full underbody check for fluid leakage and correct assembly.
Each component used in the i30 N makes Hyundai Motor’s first high-performance vehicle more agile and dynamic. This is what the Hyundai N line up stands for: The N-badged Hyundai focuses on taking the vehicle beyond its role of being just a means of transportation. It offers the customer the thrill and excitement of driving a high-performance car and becoming one with the car as it moves through corners at speed.
Contacts
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Florian Büngener
Head of Department PR & Communications
fbuengener@hyundai-europe.com LinkedIn ProfileAdriana Cerami
Head of Section Corporate & Brand PR
acerami@hyundai-europe.comKatharina Kupper
Hyundai Newsroom Lead
kkupper@hyundai-europe.comAnja Wente
Product PR & Communications Expert
awente@hyundai-europe.comElvira Herrera
Corporate Communications Expert
eherrera@hyundai-europe.comÁngel Pino Pérez
Product Communications Professional
apinoperez@hyundai-europe.comMaria Bricio
Corporate & Brand Communications Expert
