The number of car makers launching exclusive test centers at the Nürburgring is growing by day. The next brand to have a full-time presence at the iconic track is Korean manufacturer Hyundai. Now that they have established themselves as a premium auto maker that delivers quality, comfort, and value, it seems Hyundai now wants to work on the drive of their cars, making them handle more like the European rivals.
They sure do know how to get around doing this. A couple of years ago they came up with the Genesis Coupe, a V6-powered, rear-drive sports car. That car came from nowhere and gave even the competition a bloody nose. And they didn’t know the Nürburgring existed back then!
Set for launch in August 2013, the new test centre has been designed specifically to meet Hyundai’s needs. Covering four floors and 3.622 m2, it will include new workshops, office space and a VIP hospitality area, wrapped in a unique exterior glass and metallic finish.
The Nurburgring test center complements Hyundai’s European research and development infrastructure. Its purpose is not just to make sure the cars handle well. It will also carry out Hyundai’s arduous ‘accelerated durability tests’ which simulate up to 180,000 km of severe driving in a matter of weeks, to provide valuable data on a wide range of parameters.
Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and COO of Hyundai Motor Europe, commented: “Quality is one of Hyundai’s core values and it is key to achieving customer satisfaction. The Nürburgring is the ultimate location to test vehicle durability, and we’re able to apply what we learn there to all of our vehicle development projects. “Our new facility will increase our testing capacity, bringing direct benefits to our customers in terms of vehicle quality and performance.”
