After releasing the facelifted i30 model at the beginning of this year, Hyundai is now ready to follow up with an updated i30N, the high-performance version described as being ‘focused on dynamic performance, emotion and statement’.
In a series of official images being distributed worldwide, the refreshed looks show a new front end with aggressive-looking front and rear bumpers. The wide centre grille is flanked by new LED headlamps with DRLs having v-shaped light signatures.
The wheels on the car are said to be newly-developed and 19 inches in diameter. Of forged alloy, they are lighter than those of the previous i30 N, contributing to weight reduction in the car.
8-speed N-DCT
While the car will continue to use a 2-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, possibly tuned to generate additional output, the transmission will be available the company’s 8-speed dual clutch unit (N DCT). This will be Hyundai’s first car model in Europe to have the 8-speed DCT and for the i30N, it will have dedicated N performance shifting functions.
N DCT, which was installed in the Veloster N in April, is equipped with electronic actuators that operate the double clutch. Unlike a dry double-clutch transmission, the wet N DCT uses oil to significantly improve lubrication and cooling performance, which is typical of higher torque applications, while avoiding reliability issues.
Adding more fun to driving
The N DCT comes with video game-like features that add fun to driving. N Grin Shift increases torque by 7% by allowing turbocharger overboost and maximizes transmission response for 20 seconds – performance that Hyundai N engineers are certain will induce ‘driver grin’.
Additionally, N Power Shift engages when the car accelerates with more than 90% of throttle, thereby mitigating any reduction in torque by using upshifts to deliver maximum power to the wheels. This gives the driver a responsive feeling of dynamic acceleration when shifting.
The N DCT also comes with N Track Sense Shift that discerns when road conditions are optimal for dynamic driving and activates automatically, selecting the right gear and shift timing just like a professional racing car driver to provide optimal performance.
Like Mercedes-Benz with AMG and BMW’s M, Hyundai Motor also has a high-performance sub-brand which it calls ‘Hyundai N’. The first association of ‘N’ with Hyundai was when the carmaker presented its N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo concept car for PlayStation’s Gran Turismo videogame series in 2015.
Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo concept
In that same year, Hyundai brought in Albert Biermann, the former head of BMW’s M division, to spearhead the development of the N sub-brand and create a line of high-performance production cars.
Born in the WRC
To introduce the N brand as well as to give Hyundai engineers a development environment that was high pressured and extreme, Hyundai Motorsport, based in Germany, was tasked with participating in the World Rally Championship (WRC). In WRC events, rallycars compete on rough terrain and roads of gravel, tarmac, snow and ice, pushed to the limits by their drivers. Thus WRC is considered the ‘cradle of the N line-up’ where Hyundai’s high-performance concepts were first tested.
Besides the ‘WRC testing ground’ which is global, Hyundai engineers also used the Nordschliefe at the Nurburgring circuit for durability testing and tuning. In fact, since September 2014, the carmaker has had a permanent presence at the circuit, having established its European Test Centre there.
What does Hyundai N mean?
The ‘N’ in Hyundai N stands for Namyang, home to Hyundai Motor’s global R&D Centre in Korea since 1995, and also for Nurburgring, where N models are tested and developed further. The close connection between Namyang and the Nurburgring created the foundation for N, aiming to build on the company’s motorsport experience to bring winding road fun to customers who love cars. The ‘N’ logo itself embodies this idea, as it symbolises a chicane.
Measured in BPM, not RPM
The first mass production Hyundai N high-performance car, the i30 N, was launched earlier this year, Instead of focusing on pure numbers, Hyundai has chosen to emphasise driving pleasure and the emotional impact on the driver’s heartbeats per minute (BPM), rather than simply measuring revs per minute (RPM). When the driver hits the throttle and shifts through the gears, the Rev-matching function increases torque and acceleration.
Based on three cornerstones under the theme ‘Fun to Drive’, the i30 N is referred to as a ‘Corner Rascal’, and has proven its racetrack capability. It can be used for racing on weekends and driven to work on Monday.
The i30 N TCR
The i30 N TCR represents Hyundai Motorsport’s first steps into circuit racing (while continuing with the WRC), and entrance into one of the fastest growing categories in motorsport. The design phase of the i30 N TCR project began in September 2016, with the first completed test car running in April 2017. In 2019, Hyundai Motorsport increased its TCR offering with the launch of the Veloster N TCR.
Hyundai Veloster N TCR
The TCR project continues the expansion of Hyundai Motorsport, with both cars built and developed by the Customer Racing department at the team’s headquarters in Germany. Since its debut, the i30 N TCR (priced from €128,000, equivalent to RM588,000) has secured wins and championships around the world, including the inaugural WTCR titles in 2018.
300 lucky motoring enthusiasts will be receiving invites for a very special ‘N Homecoming’ hospitality experience at the 2019 Nürburgring 24 Hours Race. The sad news is that the invites will only be from countries that sell N vehicles where Malaysia is not a part of…yet. (more…)
Hyundai Motor has elaborated on a step forward in its design philosophy with providing a more detailed blueprint for ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ by unveiling the HDC-2 ‘Grandmaster’ SUV concept and presented a new N Brand Global Strategy with line-up expansion at the 2018 Busan International Motor Show.
Thomas Schemera, Executive Vice President and head of the High Performance Vehicle & Motorsport Division
Having first introduced the ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ direction with the HDC-1 ‘Le Fil Rouge’ concept vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, Hyundai further explored and elaborated on the philosophy with its latest SUV concept vehicle, the HDC-2 Grandmaster concept (below). The Le Fil Rouge sedan provided a clear direction for Hyundai’s design philosophy, while the new SUV concept vehicle further proved the versatility of this design language that will be portrayed in future Hyundai vehicles, opening up new possibilities for an even wider spectrum of attractive designs.
Hyundai also introduced the Veloster N (below) at the Busan International Motor Show, laying out the blueprint for its High Performance N Brand. Hyundai will further diversify its N Brand Product Portfolio including High Performance N models, N Line Vehicles with new design and performance enhancing elements and N Option, customization parts by N, which is available for the entire Hyundai line-up. In addition, Hyundai showcased the enhanced Tucson with refined design and enhanced active safety features including a standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA).
Exemplifying the theme of ‘Future Mobility Life’, Hyundai divided its booth into five distinct spaces – Garage N, Hyundai Veloster Street, Design Gallery, Hydrogen Electricity House and the Life Square – all of which aim to highlight Hyundai’s design philosophy and mobility life, as well as to provide valued customer experience.
Thomas Schemera, Executive Vice President and head of the High Performance Vehicle & Motorsport Division, said “I am thrilled to share our vision for the Brand today with you. We will continue to diversify our products and tailor them to the unique needs and experiences of each customer, so that every Hyundai vehicle provides a fun-to-drive experience throughout everyday life.”
“Today we showcased two concept vehicles as a blueprint for our evolved design strategy,” said SangYup Lee, Vice President and head of Hyundai styling. “Making a big step forward in terms of design with the Hyundai Look strategy, we will move towards becoming a brand that customers can really relate to emotionally. Moving on from being a brand that provides a great value, we will aspire to also become a brand that is widely beloved by our customers”
More…
Veloster N and N Brand Global Strategy…
First introduced at the North American International Auto Show in January 2018, the Veloster N is Hyundai’s second N model, following the ‘i30 N’ launched in Europe last year, and the first model to be showcased to Korean customers.
As part of Hyundai’s High Performance N Business, the Veloster N offers differentiated exterior and interior designs, focusing on fun-to-drive characteristics and providing the best driving performance to drivers, as well as passengers.
Equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged high performance engine and 6-speed manual transmission, Veloster N boasts maximum power output of 275hp and torque output of 36.0 kgf·m.
With launch control function for spontaneous start and rev matching function for dynamic gear change, Veloster N is also a true ‘Cornering Rascal’ ready to take on any difficult corners.
Hyundai’s N Vehicles demonstrate that the thrill of driving should be measured by the driver’s heartbeats per minute (BPM), rather than revs per minute (RPM), emphasizing exhilarating sensations experienced behind the wheel.
Veloster N is a part of Hyundai’s N brand Global Strategy, which aimed to provide a ground-breaking experience for drivers. Hyundai’s N line-up is based on the company’s philosophy of providing high performance driving technology and an exciting driving experience reminiscent of motorsports, granting dynamic feeling and sensation to everyday drivers.
The market response to the first N Model, ‘the i30 N’, has been so positive that the company is even considering increasing the production volume.
Elaborating on the high performance division, Schemera said “Our motorsports vehicles will spearhead the N Brand at the apex of the brand’s hierarchy. Not to mention that the valuable experience and technology derived from our success in motorsports will cascade down to all the future N products.”
HDC-1 Le Fil Rouge and HDC-2 Grandmaster concept: A step forward with the Hyundai Look…
During the 2018 Busan International Motor Show, Hyundai showcased the first SUV concept featuring the Hyundai Look, a demonstration of evolving Hyundai design philosophy.
Debuted at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, the Le Fil Rouge concept car highlights Hyundai’s evolved design direction under the theme of ‘Sensuous Sportiness’. Following the concept, the HDC-2 Grandmaster model reinterprets Hyundai’s design DNA, and is designed through harmonization of four key elements – proportion, architecture, styling and technology – thereby bringing emotional value and desirability.
The concept name of Grandmaster is derived from the game of chess. While the world’s finest chess champion is called the grandmaster, the concept vehicle is named to indicate that just as the sum of all chess pieces completes the game of chess, all forthcoming Hyundai vehicles will come to form a harmonious vehicle line-up demonstrating the Hyundai Look while each maintains distinctive character and role.
The beauty is further enhanced by the architecture and styling. The new approach of this ‘Light Architecture’ creates a perfect silhouette to the front and the rear, not to mention its technological innovation, which couples spectacular design with a comfortable experience for drivers and passengers. The design elements of ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ will be applied to Hyundai’s upcoming sedan and SUV models.
Tucson SUV…
The redesigned and enhanced 2019 Tucson features changes inside and out and is an attention-grabbing SUV. Its bold cascading grille and new headlight/DRL design create dramatic impressions.
Also, Hyundai applied an 8-speed automatic transmission and HTRAC all-wheel drive system for improved driving performance as well as better fuel economy.
Incorporating the latest technologies and safety features, the 2019 Tucson meets modern consumers’ daily needs and provides peace of mind with enhanced safety.
Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) and Driver Attention Warning (DAW) are equipped on all 2019 Tucson models to further enhance safety. Hyundai’s extra efforts to make the 2019 Tucson safer were recently recognized by top industry experts and consumers alike – J.D. Power named Tucson the Most Dependable Small SUV and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) selected the vehicle as a Top Safety Pick.
＊Above mentioned features and specification may vary by market.
The enhanced Tucson goes on sale in the Korean market in the third quarter of 2018.
The performance hatchback market has heated up these past few years. So much so that even Hyundai has decided to get in on the action. It’s setup its own performance tuning arm called the N. Vehicles that bare this letter are more performance oriented than the base models that they are based on.
If this sounds very familiar to you, that’s because it is. BMW has its M division, Mercedes-Benz has AMG and Ford has SVT. According to Hyundai, there are two reasons why the letter N was chosen to denote performance of its model naming system.
The first, N stands for Namyang, the place in South Korea that the automaker calls home and is where the idea of the creation of a performance arm came was conceptualized. The second reason is, the letter N resembles a sequence of corners of a racing track that is referred to as a chicane.
“The Hyundai i30 N has been developed for no other purpose than to deliver maximum driving fun to our customers in an accessible high-performance package,” says Albert Biermann, Executive Vice President Performance Development and High Performance Vehicle Division.”
He went on to say, “With the high-performance N models we will enhance our brand’s appeal with emotional products that cater to the needs of people who love to have a smile on their face when they drive their car on a winding road and listen to the sound of the engine.”
Whatever the case maybe, the first Hyundai to come with the N nomenclature is the i30. The humble yet striking family hatchback has been reworked from the ground up to be a performance vehicle that is able to go toe-to-toe with cars from the likes of Ford and Renault.
The front fascia has been tweaked to offer a more sporting appeal, but has been left largely untouched. The subtle bodykit provide the car with a more aggressive stance yet being tasteful enough not to seem tacky.
Behind the grille, special air curtains help limit air flow to reduce turbulence in the wheel housing and allow for more efficient cooling of the engine.
There are also special channels in the front bumper that direct air to the brakes for cooling. The rear features more angular contours than that on the standard car, too.
There’s a large rear spoiler mounted on the roof to improve downforce and to maintain stability at high speed. In fact, the entire car’s body panels have been tweaked to increase aerodynamic efficiency for maximum traction.
That coupled with an electronic limited slip differential help increase grip especially during high speed cornering. The dual sports exhaust, rear diffuser and trim pieces add to the sporty appeal that complement the 18/19 inch alloy sports rims.
Under the hood is a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that produces nearly 275bhp and 353Nm of torque. the turbo is designed to offer boost at the lower end of the rev range allowing the engine to output linear power delivery. Power is sent to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox, which should appeal to the purist fraternity.
As for the interior, the N version of the i30 receives a more sporty look which is evident by the addition of sports seats and an N exclusive, steering wheel.
This steering wheel has unique blue stitching and an N logo at the bottom. On the left of it, there’s drive selection options (Normal, Sport and Eco) that alter the drive behaviour.
On the right side of the steering wheel, there’s an N button that readies the car to match the optimum designated setting. There’s also a rev-matching feature that allow for better engine control during shifting, which should offer better acceleration and shorter sprint times.
The i30 N comes with a slew of tech that include Electronic Controlled Suspension (adjusts suspension behaviour), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Electronic Limited Slip Differential and a Variable Exhaust Valve System.
Despite the performance credentials, the car gets safety features such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Driver Attention Alert (DAA), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Speed Limit Information Function (SLIF) and High Beam Assist (HBA).
Hyundai’s i30 N has gone through extensive testing at the Nurburgring to ensure that they got the hot hatch recipe just right. That said, its a relatively new car, and we shall have to wait and see how well it stacks up against the VW Golf GTI and Ford Focus ST as well as other established models.
