Hyundai Motor’S First High-Performance Model: The Hyundai I30 N – Winter Testing In Sweden With Thierry Neuville

Hyundai i30 N will be Hyundai Motor’s first high-performance car, currently at the development stage before being launched in Europe in the second half of 2017

• Enhancing the i30 family with a third member and adding a high-performance model to provide maximum driving enjoyment for everyone
• Hyundai Motor’s N brings together motorsport experience and high-performance road car development, with Thierry Neuville testing the car in Sweden

Hyundai Motor is carrying out winter testing on its first high-performance model: the i30 N. Due to be launched across Europe in the second half of 2017, the i30 N will be the third member of the i30 family, following the launch of the five-door version in January and the i30 Wagon at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Hyundai Motor’s first N model will bring together motorsport experience and high-performance road car development, creating maximum driving enjoyment on the road and on the track in an accessible high-performance car package.

During the recent winter testing in Sweden, Thierry Neuville, World Rally Championship driver of Hyundai Motorsport, tested the car on a frozen lake to get a feeling for its performance and to provide feedback to the engineers in order to further enhance the development process. His driving experience and feedback were captured on video, now released for enthusiasts to see.

“So many people have been looking forward to this car, so it’s a pleasure for me to be testing it,” said Thierry Neuville. “The engineers have done a great job on the gearbox and the differential. There is good traction and good stability in the slippery testing conditions. And it’s very easy to handle. A normal driver should get a sensation similar to that of a racing car.”

Hyundai Motor is undergoing winter testing in Arjeplog, Sweden to develop and tune the car’s dynamic systems. The Electronic Stability Control, the Limited Slip Differential, the steering, shock absorbers, suspension and tyres are all being tested under extreme weather conditions, with temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius.

Alexander Eichler, Head of High-Performance Vehicle Test and Development at Hyundai Motor Europe’s Technical Centre, outlined the objective for the i30 N as follows: “The main target for us is to ensure driving enjoyment. Symbolising a chicane, the ‘N’ logo embodies this aspect – an agile vehicle that is fun to drive.”

About Hyundai Motor
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is committed to becoming a lifetime partner in automobiles and beyond. The company leads the Hyundai Motor Group, an innovative business structure capable of circulating resources from molten iron to finished cars. Hyundai Motor has eight manufacturing bases and seven design & technical centres worldwide and in 2015 sold 4.96 million vehicles globally. With more than 110,000 employees worldwide, Hyundai Motor continues to enhance its product line-up with localised models and strives to strengthen its leadership in clean technology, starting with the world’s first mass-produced hydrogen-powered vehicle, ix35 Fuel Cell and IONIQ, the world’s first model with three electrified powertrains in a single body type.

About Hyundai Motor UK
Hyundai has sold vehicles in the UK since 1982. In 2005, Hyundai opened its own UK subsidiary, Hyundai Motor UK Ltd, based in High Wycombe. Since 2008, the company has risen from 21st to one of the top 10 car manufacturers in the UK and last year sold a record 92,510 vehicles. Hyundai Motor UK employs more than 3,000 people through its UK operations and dealer network. Hyundai offers a full range of vehicles from the award-winning New Generation i10 city car through to the capable Santa Fe SUV and iLoad LCV. All passenger cars come with Hyundai’s industry-leading 5 Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty package.