New performance brand will work on both Hyundai and Genesis models, promises “real racetrack” performance

The man behind Hyundai’s N Performance offshoot, ex-BMW fast man Albert Biermann, has confirmed his operation will develop cars for both the main brand and its new luxury sister brand, Genesis.

In an exclusive interview with Australian media at today’s North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Biermann talked about the N division’s targets and responsibilities, although he would not be drawn on specifics.

“N is a sub-brand and with N high-performance cars we work for both brands — so you have to be ready for N versions for Hyundai and for Genesis,” Biermann told motoring.com.au.

“More than one [N model is coming]. We have a nice roadmap for the next five years… There will be Genesis cars included,” he confirmed.

Biermann said his operation’s cars would be “the full package; real racetrack-going high-performance cars”.

Although N is performance focussed, since joining Hyundai earlier in 2016 Biermann has played a significant role in fine-tuning the dynamics of the new luxury Genesis G90 launched at Detroit.

“This is a luxury sedan and it’s all about luxury. I’ve never strived so much for [so little] road noise in any project before this car.

“As you know before I was really working on high-performance cars and so on. I can tell you I have never in my life driven over so many speed bumps than on the G90 project.

“To me this is the master of speed bumps. It really does it perfectly. I joined the company nine months ago and the first week the chairman put this car on my plate and said Mr Biermann I want you to make this a very good car.”

The flagship sits on a brand-new platform optimised for its luxury role. After this year’s facelifted Genesis large sedan (to be called the G80), the next all-new Genesis will be the BMW 3 Series targeted rear and all-wheel drive G70 mid-size sedan, which Biermann says will be a much more performance focussed range.

“The G70, that’s a whole new animal. New platform, different axle concepts and this will be more on the sporty side already in the normal version. So you can expect some really nice handling cars. I cannot give too many details now, but you will not be disappointed in any regard,” he opined.

In terms of benchmarking, Biermann is cagey. While Alfa Romeo openly stated BMW’s M3/M4 was the target for its Guilia, which will launch into the same class, Biermann is not specific.

“Whatever comes best [in class is what] we take [as a benchmark]… Things change [quickly] so there’s no ‘best’ for a long time.

“You can expect also some powerful G70 [models]. That platform is good for a lot of power,” he revealed.

But there’ll be a wait. Biermann confirmed the first N Performance model would not hit the road until “two years time” and the powered-up G70 (perhaps in both coupe and four-door form) will follow that.

The first N Performance model is still expected to be an i30-based hot hatch. Hyundai will launch the new generation of the standard i30 later this year with it due to arrive Down Under in 2017. The hot hatch will follow around 12 months later.

“It is a car more focussed on Europe and then the next car will be focussed on the US and so we take an ‘easy’ start. We don’t go to full blast on the first car but the philosophy, the jobs, how we approach a high-performance car, how we develop it, the thinking [behind it all] – it’s all full high-performance,” Bierman explained.

“There’s, for our company, some new technology [in the car] but it’s much more the way we are working on the project and it’s all about the driving fun. That’s on top of everything else.”

So does that rule out all-wheel drive?

“Are there really so many AWD cars out there that are fun to drive?” the N boss asked rhetorically.

“I think one can, but it’s not out there yet. You need to wait til then…

“This [car] will be something very approachable for a wider amount of customers to bring some new enthusiasts and get young people attracted to our brand. I think the relation of fun to drive to cost will be very, very good.”

“Of course fun to drive [is the key]… Fun to drive on a racetrack – not sitting with hot mode after two laps cooking your transmission, coolers or brakes.

“[We intend to build] Really substantial performance cars,” he stated.

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