Other Genesis, Hyundai and Kia models will be developed in Europe for Europe, according to Tyrone Johnson, who leads R&D in the region for all three brands.
“We are so successful [in our European operation] that we were given more to develop on our own,” he said.
Ultimately, the move means more bespoke models just for Europe, but also the team leading the development of some global models, such as those from the Hyundai N performance sub-brand.
Last year alone, Johnson’s team had 30 projects in the works, including the Hyundai Kona N, Hyundai i20 N and the Elantra N, which was developed in Europe but destined for the United States.
Since taking office in 2018, Johnson has consolidated a number of European test sites. Today, its main facility is the former Opel test track in Dudenhofen, Germany.
The Hyundai Group is also planning to double the size of its Nürburgring site, Johnson confirmed. He said “the ring is used for extensive durability testing, with each vehicle clocking 10,000 miles on the circuit.
In terms of new models for Europe, last year saw the launch of the Genesis G70 Shooting Brake, a car that was created specifically for the European market. It has been so well received, said Genesis Europe boss Dominique Boesch, that its home market in South Korea is now considering selling the car as well.
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-06-16 23:01:23
