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Hyundai Explains Why The World Needs The Kona N

Dec. 12, 2021 12:31 PM ET by Gerhard Horn Sports Cars / 4 Comments There's nothing else quite like it. Albert Biermann is a genius and is responsible for Hyundai becoming a serious competitor in the go-faster segment. He recently sat down with MotoManTV to explain why Hyundai's latest hot cars exist, but before that, we need to introduce him to those who don't follow automotive news that closely. Hyundai poached him from BMW in 2014. He had been working for BMW's M department since 1983, which means he was directly involved in every iconic M car ever made, including the E39 M5. The question of whether Biermann could deliver a suitable front-wheel-drive rival to the Golf GTI was quickly answered. Instead of hitting his target, Biermann overshot a bit. Since then, he has been churning out hit after hit. His best work to date is the Veloster N, though his latest products are right up there. The Kona N and Elantra N were recently launched in the US market, and Biermann was there to talk more about his latest projects. The big question is why the Kona N exists? Why a hot version of a compact crossover? The case for the Elantra N is much simpler. Performance sedans are still a big drawing card. And Hyundai needed something to go up against the beloved Honda Civic Si. The justification for the Kona is simple. Biermann saw a sketch of a Kona N in the media and liked it so much that he cut it out and put it on his office wall. "It just looked cool," said Biermann. "And of course then the discussion about how to bring N to more customers came up, and Kona already has a huge customer base." Interestingly, Biermann mentions that the Kona is no lower than the standard car. Dropping a car is usually performance car 101, but retaining the practicality was more important to Biermann. This added an additional layer to the engineering complexity, yet somehow Biermann and the team at Hyundai made it work. Hyundai Hyundai Hyundai Biermann makes another surprise revelation. He sees torque steer as a feature and not something that should be avoided. "With torque steer, you can sense the power you put on the road," said Biermann. "It gives you very nice feedback in terms of how close you are to the limit. In a front-wheel-drive car, that is all that matters. The car talks to you nicely." The same is true when it comes to the Elantra N. Biermann says that it's possible to kill torque steer completely via the steering algorithm, but that it's something they'd never do. He also doesn't hold back on the stiffness of the chassis in N Mode, which is something we noticed during our test drive. "Yeah, it's very stiff, but our customers love it, so we will keep tuning it that way," said Biermann. Hyundai Hyundai CarBuzz This statement clarifies that Hyundai uses customer feedback to engineer N models, which could be another reason for their success in the US. Finally, Biermann reveals the secret behind Hyundai's affordability. The Elantra N competes directly with the Jetta GLI, which has a 228 hp and 258 lb-ft turbocharged engine. Hyundai gives you a 276 hp and 289 lb-ft turbocharged engine with an overboost function for the same amount of money. Retailing for just $34,200, the Kona N makes an even better case for itself. Mini's John Cooper Works Countryman is its closest rival, and that costs $41,500 before you add options. "No competitor should ever outrank an N car in fun per dollar," Biermann concludes. Hyundai Hyundai CarBuzz

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Hyundai Kona N Gerhard Horn Senior Editor Gerhard knew from a young age that he wanted to be an automotive journalist. He completely disappointed his parents by completing degrees in communication and English, as well as diplomas in graphic design and film and art appreciation. He later interned at various automotive publications, before landing a permanent position at a newspaper. He became the editor within two years, after which he landed a job as the deputy editor at a national publication, where he spent eight years traveling the world, driving, and writing. In his current role as senior editor, he writes news, reviews, scripts, and opinion pieces. When he’s not supposed to be working, you’ll probably find him working. When he’s forced to take a break, you’ll find him at the movies, or behind the wheel of a ‘92 NA Miata called Kimiko. Contact Gerhard @GrootScreenGerhard LoginSign Up Home News Features Car Reviews Car Advice 2021 CarBuzz Awards New Cars Used Cars Future Cars Compare Cars Sell My Car Car Dealerships Buy Here Pay Here Used Car Reviews Popular Tags Cars # Video # TOP # Spy Shots # Reveal # Rumor # Auto Show # Supercar # Tuning # Car Culture # Industry News # Motorsport Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bollinger Bugatti Buick Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Genesis GMC Hennessey Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lordstown Lotus Lucid Motors Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Pagani Polestar Porsche Ram Rimac Rivian Rolls-Royce Spyker Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo By Make Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bollinger Bugatti Buick Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Genesis GMC Hennessey Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lordstown Lotus Lucid Motors Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Pagani Polestar Porsche Ram Rimac Rivian Rolls-Royce Spyker Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo By Car Type SUVs Crossovers Sedans Coupes Trucks Sports Cars Wagons Vans Hatchbacks Convertibles Small Cars Luxury Cars Electric Cars Hybrid Cars Future Cars By Price Up to $15K $15K - $25K $25K - $35K $35K - $45K $45K - $55K $55K - $75K $75K - $100K $100K - $200K $200K - $300K Above $300K Back To Top