Hyundai Will Launch N Performance Brand with WRC Program

At the official unveiling of its 2014 i20 WRCHyundai i20 WRCRepublic of Korea, 2013 > present that will make its competition debut at the 2014 Rallye Monte Carlo in January, HyundaiHyundaiRepublic of Korea, 1967 > present79 models
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also announced the creation of its new N performance brand that will build high performance Hyundai models for Europe. The name N name comes from Hyundai’s technical center in Namyang, Korea, but the N sub-brand will actually be headquartered in Alzenau, Germany, at the Hyundai Motorsport headquarters.

The i20 WRC will carry the N branding at the front and rear.

The N will create high performance versions of Hyundai’s cars. It has not said specifically which models it will work on yet, but expect to see an i20Hyundai i20Republic of Korea, 2008 > 201462 versions
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N in the near future to link it to the WRC program.

"We will communicate more about N next year. The idea is to use the connection between the research and development center in Namyang, Korea, and the motorsport division in Alzenau, Germany, to put all the engineering capability into special car models,” said Michel Nandan, Hyundai Motorsport team principal.

N will focus on the European market for now, and there has been no mention of its cars being sold outside of Europe yet.

Hyundai will campaign two cars for the 2014 WRC season. Thierry Neuville will be the team’s primary driver, but Juho Hänninen, Dani Sordo and Chris Atkinson will drive the second car during various events of the season. Sordo will drive during the Rallye Monte Carlo, and Atkinson will drive at the Rally Australia.

The team says that its goal for its first season is for both cars to finish all events.

“Our aims for 2014 are realistic: we want to finish each rally with both cars and build up a database of information and experience so we can develop ourselves into prospective rally winners in the future. If all goes well, we will hope to be competing for occasional podiums as the year progresses,” said Nandan.

Hyundai first showed the i20 WRC at the Paris Motor Show in September 2012.

Source: Autocar