Hyundai N Performance EV Will Happen ‘Sooner or Later’
Hyundai’s N sub-brand will eventually have an electric performance model, so long as Hyundai/Kia engineering boss Albert Biermann gets his way.
Speaking to Automotive News about the future of the N performance brand, Biermann said the brand will begin to look at electrification in a few years’ time. The current crop of N-badged Hyundais, which includes the i30 N, i30 N Fastback and Veloster N, will make up the N portfolio until 2021 – at which point the company will begin to look at introducing new, more advanced N products.
“When we think of cars after 2021 for N, I think we cannot avoid electrification,” Biermann said. “We will have an EV sooner or later. It’s just a matter of timing.”
Biermann went on to explain how an existing Hyundai EV, such as the Ioniq Electric, could be easily transformed into an N model with a larger battery, bigger motor and different inverter.
“As an example, we have an Ioniq EV,” he said. “Were we to find a nice battery, a bigger motor and inverter, we could make an Ioniq EV N with a nice chassis and more power. Something like that is not fully crazy.”
SEE ALSO: Mid Engine Hyundai N Flagship Still Being Looked At
The former BMW M boss also revealed the N performance division is currently working on something special to show high-ranking Hyundai executives in Korea. Biermann could be referencing the mid-engine hatchback vehicle that was previewed by the RM16 concept. A prototype for this wild-looking mid-engine vehicle was first spotted testing back in 2016 and it’s believed Hyundai’s N division is still very interested in bringing it to production.
“There’s a car within the next two or three months that we probably have a chance to show to Vice Chairman Chung [Eui-sun] and our top management,” Biermann told AN. “Depending on what is the current mood and situation, we might get a spontaneous ‘OK, go for it.'”
The next product to arrive from Hyundai’s N performance division, the i30 N Fastback, will debut at the 2018 Paris Motor Show this fall. While the i30 N and i30 N Fastback won’t be arriving in North America, we’ll be getting the closely related Veloster N, which is expected to arrive in dealerships in two to three months.
[Source: Automotive News]
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