Hyundai N

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Hyundai N

Type	Division
Industry	Automotive industry
Founded	2016
Products	Performance engines and cars Automotive sports accessories
Services	Research and development
Owner	Hyundai Motor Group
Parent	Hyundai
Website	hyundai-n.com

N is the official name of Hyundai Motor Company's high-performance brand which was established in 2016. In many ways, Hyundai's N brand is the equivalent of BMW M, Mercedes-AMG, or Ford Performance brands.^[1] The notable difference is that instead of concentrating on offering enhanced sports cars, it focuses on providing maximum excitement to drivers.^[2]

The inspiration for the "N" name comes from three closely related elements; firstly, the Namyang district in South Korea, which was the birthplace of the N brand as well as the location of Hyundai's Global R&D Center. Secondly, the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany, which is home to Hyundai's Technical Center where all N models are tested. And finally, both the logo and the name "N" evoke the chicanes so common on racing circuits.^[3]

The first N-branded vehicle was the i30 N, which debuted for the 2017 model year.

History[]

Origin[]

In 1989, long before creating the N brand, Hyundai Motor Company undertook to develop the brand's first domestic sports car. That same year, at the Tokyo Motor Show, Hyundai presented the first car of its SLC (Sports-looking Car) program,^[4] a coupe based on the recently launched Excel and incorporating the first engine developed entirely in-house. The Excel SLC was equipped with a turbocharger and the Sonata gearbox, clearly signaling that it was a performance-oriented car.

Thus, in February 1990, Hyundai launched its first coupe in Korea, the Scoupe, based on the second-generation Excel. This model was initially equipped with a 1.5-liter Mitsubishi engine; however, a year later, in 1991, Hyundai finally started using its 1.5-liter Alpha engine in both normally aspirated and turbocharged versions.

The Scoupe, also known as Scoop, was a milestone in Hyundai's history, as it was its first high-performance vehicle, which in turn opened the doors for the Korean brand to the fascinating world of motorsports.^[5] The success of the Scoupe in high-level competitions such as the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb motivated Hyundai to move forward with its SLC program, which gave birth to more aggressive models. Proof of it was the Hyundai Tiburon, born from the HCD-1 and HCD-2 concept cars designed by Hyundai Motor America Design Center in California.^[6]

The Tiburon launched by Hyundai in 1996 was a sports coupe with the ambitious goal of winning the hearts of enthusiasts not only in Korea but around the world. To that end, the Tiburon used a new platform with aggressive exterior and interior styling for the time, shock absorbers developed in conjunction with Porsche, Hyundai's new 2.0-liter Beta engine, and a host of performance-oriented optimizations. The fantastic reception of the Tiburon led to the introduction of new trim levels, such as the Top Grand Prix Experience (TGX), which included performance improvements in all areas. Its excellent stability and reliability also made possible a facelift in 1999, the Tiburon Turbulence, which gave a more modern look to the beloved coupe along with two new trim levels, Type-S and Type-R.^[7]

Despite being considered a vehicle ahead of its time, the Tiburon finally needed a replacement. This led in 2001 to the launch of the Hyundai Tuscani, known in some markets as the Tiburon Tuscani. The new Tuscani offered greater structural rigidity, lines more in keeping with the times, a more refined and luxurious interior, and most importantly, significant powertrain improvements. Like its predecessors, the Tuscani was responsible for introducing Hyundai's most advanced technology, in this case through the new 2.7-liter V6 Delta engine and its revolutionary 6-speed manual gearbox, the first of its kind in a Korean sports car. Other improvements used by Hyundai on the high-performance Tuscani ELISA model included a special suspension system designed by SACHS, which also began to be used on the 2.0-liter GTS II model in 2004.^[8]

By 2008, no one was questioning Hyundai Motors' ability to design and build high-performance cars that were fun to drive.^{[citation needed]} This achievement was the product of the success of the Scoupe, the Tiburon, and the Tuscani. However, a new challenge awaited Hyundai's engineers, designing the brand's first rear-wheel-drive (RWD) sports coupe, the Genesis Coupe.

Before the Genesis Coupe, all Hyundai sports cars were front-wheel drive (FWD). However, in order to maintain its leadership in the industry, Hyundai needed to compete with other RWD models that featured better weight distribution than their FWD counterparts. Thus, since 2004, began the development of the new RWD coupe that made it possible for Hyundai to reach new horizons. The all-new Genesis Coupe was officially unveiled at the 2008 New York Motor Show. Hyundai's new sports car would feature two engines, the 3.8-liter V6 Lambda (380GT) and the 2.0-liter turbo (200 turbo). Additionally, the Genesis would also feature a Torsen Limited Slip Differential (LSD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and other enhancements such as 4-caliper Brembo brake discs, which would ensure predictable and safe handling at any speed.

Beyond maintaining its market position, Hyundai also had other plans in mind when it launched the Genesis Coupe, re-entering the World Rally Championship (WRC). This was a goal that required a high-end vehicle with excellent stability, power, and weight distribution, something the Tuscani could not offer at the time.

Motorsport activity[]

Hyundai Motors' amazing track record began in the late 1980s when the Korean brand listened to the voices of millions of enthusiasts clamoring for a high-performance sports coupe. Since then, each generation of Hyundai vehicles, from the Scoupe to the current N models, has left an indelible mark on motorsports history.

Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race record (2016–)[]

Along with the WRC (World Rally Championship), the Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race is a high-level competition where Hyundai Motor Company has participated and obtained great triumphs over the years.^[9]

It all started in 2016 when German dealer 'Schumann Motorsport' began participating in the Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race using second-generation i30 vehicles. The information obtained from this modified vehicle allowed the durability of the powertrain, suspension, and other key components to be tested prior to the mass production of the first i30 N model.

By April 2017, the final i30N prototype was already participating in the competition. By this time, Hyundai Motor Company independently started participating in the Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race using its WRT W Racing team. This allowed engineers from the Namyang Research Institute in Korea to do the final testing of the i30 N on the race track itself, proof of Hyundai's commitment to providing a track-proven, high-performance vehicle.

For 2018, Hyundai Motor's two i30 N cars successfully completed the 6 hours of qualifying to subsequently enter the finals of this grueling event. In the end, they took second and fourth place in the TCR class and 58 overall. Of the 150 cars that entered the race that year, only 106 were able to complete the race, including the two i30 N cars.

In 2019, Hyundai Motor North America (HMA) introduced the Veloster N TCR at the Detroit Auto Show. The new model entered the competition that same year along with the i30 N TCR and the i30 Fastback N demonstrating once again Hyundai's progress on the racetrack. Being its first time at the Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race, the Veloster N TCR managed to place 45th overall and 2nd in the TCR class, a milestone, given that the i30 N TCR took first place that same year but only after years of continuous improvement.

By 2020, Hyundai Motor Company was already a rival to be feared at the Nürburgring 24 Hour Endurance Race. The three participating vehicles, the Veloster N TCR, the i30 Fastback N, and the i30 N TCR, achieved the best overall places so far, even after the event was interrupted for 8 hours due to heavy rain.

As changes for the 2021 season, Hyundai participated with the Elantra N TCR, the i30 N TCR, and the i20 N in the SP2T class. The Elantra N TCR finished first in class and 32nd overall, the i30 N TCR finished 2nd in the TCR class and 33rd overall, while the i20 won the SP2T class, finishing 89th overall.

Recent history[]

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Hyundai's involvement in motorsports was never about gaining brand recognition. The experience gained in the field helped to improve the engines, gearboxes, suspension systems, brakes, and structural integrity of its entire range of vehicles. That's why, in 2012, Hyundai made the decision to gather the best researchers and engineers at its R&D Center in Namyang to create a new brand focused on developing high-performance vehicles, the N brand.^[10]

That same year in 2012, at the Paris Motor Show, Hyundai unveiled the i20 WRC concept car along with the announcement that it will participate as a manufacturer in the WRC with its own World Rally Team (WRT). This led to the creation of the Hyundai Motorsport (HMSG) branch in Europe, which was responsible for launching the i20 WRC race car at the Geneva Motor Show.

The creation of the HMSG branch and the launch of the new i20 WRC were part of a visionary plan that became more evident in 2013 when the N logo was unveiled to the public on the 2014 i20 WRC model.^[11] The debut of the 2014 i20 WRC could not have been better. In 2014 in the 3rd round, the Mexico Rally, Hyundai WRT achieved its first podium by taking 3rd place. Then in round 9 in Germany, it took first place.

Meanwhile, researchers at the Namyang R&D Center wasted no time using the valuable data gathered from the WRC to introduce the first concept car of the Racing Midship line, the RM14, at the 2014 Busan Motor Show. Since then, the RM line has continued with the RM15, RM16, and RM19 models.^[12] These high-performance concept cars based on the first-generation 2012 Veloster have served as a testing ground for new technologies and ideas from researchers that have then been implemented later in the N-brand. Moreover, the RM series showed the world that Hyundai was quite capable of designing mid-engine racing vehicles with aluminum space frames, carbon-reinforced plastic body parts, active spoilers, and electric superchargers among other cutting-edge technologies.

Now that the foundations of the N brand were in place, it was time for the next big step in Hyundai’s master plan. In late 2014 Hyundai Motor Company announced that Albert Biermann would be the Executive Vice President and Head of Vehicle Testing and High-Performance Development.^[13] Biermann spent more than 30 years at BMW and was in charge of the M division before leaving. His leadership has since been key to defining the brand's philosophy of high-performance vehicles that are fun to drive and affordable to the public.

Proof of this is that on September 15 of the same year, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the brand's slogan 'Ngaged' was revealed,^[14] which has to do with the moment when the car and the driver become one. Since then, this date has been celebrated every year as the official birth of the N brand.

Just two years later, on July 13, 2017, the first mass-production model of the N brand, the iconic i30 N, was launched in the European market.^[15] Since its inception, the i30 N used state-of-the-art technology such as a turbocharged GDi engine, electronically controlled differential limiter (e-LSD), and electronically controlled suspension as part of its standard equipment.

The following year in 2018, the second N-branded model, the Veloster N, was launched, this time targeting the Asia Pacific market. Like the i30 N, it shared the same distinctive N-brand technology. In October of that year, the i30 Fastback was also unveiled at the Paris Motor Show.^[16] The i30 Fastback was a five-door coupe version of the i30, using the same engine, suspension, and brakes but with optimizations aimed at the body type, thereby securing the unique agile movement and dynamic driving performance that the N model pursues.

Driven by the resounding success obtained in the 2019 WRC season where Hyundai Motorsport won the manufacturer's title, a new division, the 'N Performance Parts', is launched. The aim is to market official tuning parts of the N brand that include exterior parts such as carbon spoiler and diffuser, interior parts such as steering wheel and parking lever applied with Alcantara material, brake system with monobloc 4-piston caliper and hybrid disc rotor, and 19-inch lightweight among others.

By April 2020, the dual-clutch transmission (DCT) is introduced on the Veloster N,^[17] which until now had only a manual gearbox. Other improvements introduced that year were the NGS (N-Grin Shift) system that helps improve acceleration and the NPS (N-Power Shift) that synchronizes transmission shifts with the engine.^[18]

Also, in 2020, the i20 N is revealed through the YouTube Hyundai N Worldwide official channel. The new model uses the Gamma II engine from previous generations of the N-Line to produce 204 horsepower. It was this same vehicle that was used to promote the N brand in that year's WRC.

In April 2021, the Hyundai N Day event was held online, mainly because of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[19] This event unveiled the brand's new slogan 'Never just drive' as well as the first high-performance SUV model, the KONA N. Additionally, the new Elantra N based on the 7th generation Avante was revealed. Other announcements included the improved NGS of the Veloster N DCT and the use of the Knuckle Integrated Drive Axle (IDA), a technology acquired through WRC that minimizes output loss during acceleration.

Brand DNA[]

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The N brand's unique approach of offering high-performance vehicles at an affordable price that are exciting to drive is based on three founding pillars.^[20]

Corner Rascal[]

When it comes to driving at the limit, nothing beats the thrill of taking a sharp turn. Hyundai knows this, which is why N vehicles use the most advanced technology to provide a unique carving experience.  In that sense, Hyundai uses its exclusive Electronic Controlled Limited Slip Differential 'N Corner Carving Differential' to keep you on track, even in the most challenging corners. Moreover, N's advanced electric power steering along with its Electronic Control Suspension 'N Power Sense Axle' improves cornering stability by adjusting the variable dampers in real-time. Last but not least, N vehicles come equipped with the amazing Pirelli P-Zero tires that provide maximum grip, steering response, and precise control.

Everyday Sports Car[]

Unlike other high-performance brands, Hyundai N is aimed at the general public who want to feel the adrenaline rush of a high-level sports car. In this sense, each N brand vehicle is designed to offer an unbeatable value proposition consisting of an affordable entry price, low maintenance, and user-friendly features. The combination of these factors is evident in the incredible 'N Grin Control System.’ This intuitive and easy-to-use system allows the driver to switch between different driving modes such as Eco mode, Normal mode, Sport mode, N mode, and N custom mode at the touch of a steering wheel button. Each mode adjusts a number of parameters related to engine throttle response, suspension stiffness, stability control, N Corner Carving Differential, steering weight, rev-matching intensity, and Variable Exhaust Valve. In doing so, the N vehicles make sure to provide a suitable mode for every mood or situation, from urban commuting to challenging spirited driving runs.

Race Track Capability[]

Unlike other high-performance brands, Hyundai has gone to great lengths to make N vehicles track-ready without the need for modifications or additional gear. In its quest to achieve this goal, Hyundai includes as standard advanced driver aids such as its Lap Timer & G-Force Meter, its Shift Timing Indicator, as well as its Rev Match system, which allows sporty downshifts. Moreover, in addition to these aids, by selecting the 'N drive mode', the driver can access the sophisticated Launch Control system that regulates the available torque when launching from a standstill to provide maximum grip and minimum wheel spin. Add to this the race seats, easily accessible controls, and extra protection, and the result are vehicles designed to drive hard on the race track 'just as they are' out of the showroom.

Hyundai N versus N Line and Concept Line[]

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In its short life, the original concept of the N-vehicle has evolved to meet the needs of the public. In that sense, Hyundai currently offers three performance levels that share the same racing DNA.^[21]

N (Hyundai N brand)[]

Hyundai N vehicles are rigorously tested in extreme track conditions to ensure they meet the brand's three pillars of Corner Rascal, Everyday Sports Car, and Race Track Capability. These models are aimed at performance enthusiasts looking for a street-legal vehicle they can take to the limit on and off the track. In addition to all the aerodynamic upgrades, these vehicles use N-exclusive badging, modified engines, custom gearboxes, variable suspension systems, and all the other upgrades you would expect from an N car. In short, these vehicles provide a level of performance equal or superior to those offered by BMW M or Mercedes-AMG.^[22]

N Line[]

Hyundai created the N Line inspired by the success of the original N vehicles. These models include styling and performance upgrades that differentiate them from their standard counterparts. While the N Line vehicles feature better aerodynamics, better handling, premium tires, and more power, one important aspect to consider is that they use the same powertrain as the standard models. In other words, the N Line is the result of improving a stock model with aesthetic elements inspired by the Hyundai N brand and some minor engine improvements to slightly increase power. However, the N Line does not feature exclusive N technologies (such as the N Corner Carving Differential, for example) as these are reserved for the N brand. This line is aimed at enthusiasts who are more interested in driving Hyundai vehicles with a strong sporty accent and mild performance boosts.^[23]

Concept Line[]

As the name suggests, these are prototype vehicles not commercially available to the general public, whose mission is to test revolutionary technologies that would later be incorporated into the N brand. One example is the amazing RM20e,^[24] an electric vehicle that develops 810 hp of power and 960 Nm of torque that allows it to reach 0-200 kph in just 9.88 seconds. ^[25]

List of Hyundai N vehicles[]

Current N models[]

Model		Calendar year introduced	Model code
i20 N	i20 N	2020	BC3 N
i30 N	i30 N / i30 Fastback N	2017	PD N
VELOSTER N	Veloster N	2018	JS N
ELANTRA/AVANTE/i30 SEDAN N	Elantra N / Avante N / i30 Sedan N	2021	CN7 N
KONA N	Kona N	2021	OS N

Current N Line models[]

Hyundai N offers optional sports trim packages to their mainstream models, known as the N Line. N Line vehicles consist of sport upgrades that are mostly cosmetic, such as different wheels and spoilers.

• Elantra/Avante/i30 Sedan N Line (2020–present)
• i10 N Line (2019–present)
• i20 N Line (2020–present)
• i30 N Line (2018–present)
• Kona N Line (2020–present)
• Sonata N Line (2020–present)
• Tucson N Line (2019–present)

• 

  2020 Avante N Line

• 

  2019 i10 N Line

• 

  2021 i20 N Line (BI3)

• 

  2020 i30 N Line

• 

  2022 Kona N Line

• 

  2021 Tucson N Line

Concept cars[]

• RM20e (based on the Veloster JS-Electrification Version)
• RM19 (based on the Veloster JS)
• Veloster N Performance Car
• N Option ‘Show Car’ also known as N’s Brand Shaper
• RN30  (based on the i30-PD)
• Project RM vehicles
• Vision GT (Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo)

• Hyundai N concept cars
• 

  RN30 Concept

• 

  RN30 Concept

• 

  RM16 Concept

• 

  2025 Vision Gran Turismo Concept

Current motorsports competition models[]

• i20 Coupe WRC (2014–present)
• i30 N TCR (2017–present)
• Veloster N TCR (2019–present)
• Elantra N TCR (2021–present)
• i20 Rally2 (2021–present)

Project RM Hyundai prototype cars[]

• RM14 (based on the Veloster FS)
• RM15 (based on the Veloster FS)
• RM16 (based on the Veloster FS)

Other prototype cars[]

• i-max N (based on the Grand Starex/i-max)
• MR23T (based on the Veloster JS)

Previous motorsports competition models[]

• i30 Fastback N World Time Attack Challenge (WTAC) Race Car (2019)
• i20 R5 (2016 - 2021)

See also[]

• Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo

References[]

External links[]

• Official website