Hyundai Making Foray Into High-Performance Arena

Hyundai will launch its high-performance “N” sub-brand at next month’s Frankfurt auto show, highlighted by an ultra-flashy theme concept called the Hyundai N2025 Vision Gran Turismo.

Renderings of the N2025 Vision concept have been officially released, though Hyundai sources say the vehicle never will see production. They say it was developed at Hyundai’s R&D and vehicle-development center in Namyang, Korea, to show features that could wind up in future performance cars and perhaps even in regular production vehicles.

To show how features from the N2025 Vision might make it into series production, Hyundai also is unveiling its RM15 midengine concept vehicle, which incorporates some of the technology contained or hinted at in the N2025 Vision.

Also, to build on its developing presence in the World Rally Championship, Hyundai will show a prototype for its new-generation i20 WRC car, the finished product of which will compete in the 2016 FIA World Rally Championship at Monte Carlo. Hyundai says another prototype of the vehicle, based on the production i20, is undergoing high-performance testing.

Launch of the N sub-brand, “N” designating Namyang, has been expected since Hyundai hired Albert Bierman, the highly credentialed chief engineer of BMW’s M performance operations, in March. Bierman heads the N-car development program.

As an additional N-car promotion, Hyundai has arranged to have the N2025 Vision Grand Turismo included in Sony PlayStation’s Gran Turismo video game series, planting the publicity in the minds of gamers worldwide.