An Interview With Albert Biermann- The Hyundai Veloster N

Albert Biermann once helmed BMW’s M Performance division. Now he’s Hyundai's Executive Vice President for Vehicle Testing and High Performance Development. In other words, he’s making driving fun much more affordable. Tom Voelk caught up with Albert at the Veloster N press event held at Thunderhill Raceway Park in California to find out why he moved to Hyundai and what he's doing to make the South Korean brand's cars handle better.
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About Tom:
Tom Voelk is an award-winning automotive contributor to The New York Times. His podcast was the first to win an Emmy Award. He also married way out of his league. Now, stop reading this promotional copy bragging about Tom's photography and editing skills and watch a couple episodes. It's much more interesting.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Hi all. Just so you know I'm working on the Veloster N video for Tuesday.

[@SuperTallSteve]

Driven Car Reviews I appreciate your work Tom. I found it so intriguing that he moved from BMW to Hyundai. Thanks for taking the time to interview him. Nobody else has taken the time to do a video like this. Now i can understand why Biermann did that and i will definitely keep my eyes out for Hyundais “N” cars. 😊

[@arthurmroyce]

I recently purchased a 2020 Veloster N with the performance package. So much fun and I do have a smile on my face every time I drive her.

[@AlexB13]

Mr. Biermann rocks Hyundai's performance to the max, good man!!

[@PrinceOfHavendale]

Tom this was great. Could you please do more interviews like this? It's great hearing how these engineers think and getting insights into the brands themselves. Looks like Hyundai might be going down the Toyota path of trying to make every model sporty. Do you think we will ever see the days of car companies just making a soft, quiet, comfortable car again or is Lincoln the only company trying to fill that role? Thanks!

[@DrivenCarReviews]

I don't always have access to execs this interesting. Or high profile. But yeah, I like this kind of stuff. It gives some depth to the coverage of the industry. Humanity too.

[@vladsaghin7644]

This man is so inspiring! You can see the enjoyment and excitement about his job and being able to reshape and redefine 3 brands at the same time must be much more fulfilling than working at M!

[@jamespatrick6939]

wait what, Tom is an incredible interviewer, I demand a streaming service just with car journalist by Tom and his evil twin!, jokes aside this was a very good interview, and mr Albert sounds really exited to be in Hyundai, and that excitement shows on the cars they make

[@tomutleyinc]

Your talent for concisely asking the question is notable Tom. It's a rare quality. Do it again!

[@hydropascal]

Finally, there is THE Biermann who is a secret(not really) and key sauce for the class-up of Hyundai/Kia cars especially N cars. Great cars !

[@AlainHubert]

Thank you for this interview. Now I know a little more why I love driving my Kia Stinger every single day ! Thank you Albert for being a big part of the team that created this beautiful car.

[@basementality4924]

To think this guys pretty much first performance car for this brand, won road and track performance car of the year. Yeah this guy is going to do great things with these brands.

[@richardcampbell8685]

That was a perfect interview. Seriously... well done sir well done.

[@Affalterbach1967]

This is a great interview, with the interviewer concisely setting up the topic and not bloviating, so we get to hear the interviewee.

[@ntoxicatedtigah]

This is so awesome! ALBERT BIERMANN a hero to the South Korean automotive industry , like Guus Hiddink to South Korean Football / Soccer.

[@jordanwharton5286]

Thanks for this interview! I love the direction he's taking Hyundai and the entire family of cars. Offered some nice insight into the industry and into one of my favourite car companies!

[@Yathuprem]

Awesome job Tom. Can't wait for the review. More like it expected in the future

[@troyklassen1473]

A great interview and insight on where Hyundai is going, well done Tom and keep these interviews on your to do list.I would say a major coup getting Biermann on board with Hyundai.

[@Jorge_Magallon]

Love these interviews with engineer types. Well done.

[@TheMichaelRN]

He left BMW because he wanted more freedom, and M division used to be special, now it's an option package. Guaranteed there'll be an X7 M. Ultimate driving machines no more.

[@jean-louislonne7033]

Hello Tom, You let M. Biermann speak, only nudging him. How many interviews do you hear the interviewer more than the interviewee (ugh). Result, an interesting interview. Way to go Tom!

[@stevewise1656]

Great catch getting that interview.

[@TheMichaelRN]

G70 N. And bring the fastback to North America.

[@sleepy1171]

we will give you the fast back if you give us the veloster N haha.

[@chrismorris3726]

Great interview, Tom. Love the channel!

[@y0ungj0m]

Thank you for the super insightful interview!

[@woodstockm-7935]

Very great interview! Looking forward more "N" beast affordable performance car❤❤

[@pistolpete6321]

Great interview, I could listen to AB talk about cars all day long! Hyundai did a good job hiring him away from BMW!!

[@fromisheon4867]

Thank you for working for Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. And Hyundai you are doing great job hiring great people.

[@richardcampbell8685]

This man is my hero. Everything he said about the car is 100% true which is why I own a 2020 Veloster N performance. We need more car enthusiast dictating what goes on and not marketing departments. *Cough new coke *cough

[@TwentyOneThirty]

A great interview. Thanks for posting.

[@Toki1908]

great man great enthusiasm thanks for the video

[@jackwinklebean]

Excellent interview. I like Biermann's philosophy. Just watched the car review as well and I can't wait to buy it next month.

[@shopwithaaron]

All I can say is Watch out world!!! Great interview and loving Mr. Bierman! One ? Tom...do you know if he had a hand in tuning my 2017 Optima SXL turbo?? Thx.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

I think he started working on newer product like the G90, G70 and Kona but really, I'm not sure. But really, as long as you're enjoying it...

[@Aliakbar.m]

Great interview! Can't wait to watch your new video!

[@evolved326]

2 car guys just chopping it up. Very good!

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Oh, I could have picked his mind all day and gone in deep on technical stuff. I had 15 minutes and needed broad brush strokes.

[@ChristopherCarReviews]

I love this video.

[@93455Driver]

That was a great interview, amazing how well Biermann has worked wonders on an FWD considering his BMW performance background may have been more on the RWD cars. Looking forward to more reviews on the Genesis products, imagine if they try and do an even sportier version of the G70 RWD. Indeed wish the Genesis G70 had the B&M manual from this Veloster N, with the 3.3 turbo engine. Looked like Antuan from CNET Roadshow was struggling to stay awake? (Or just inpatient to get driving Veloster N).

[@fredepstein]

Try as well a Kia Stinger GT...Bierman did an excellent job on that car.

[@ntoxicatedtigah]

What makes this great is that he can input all the dynamics of a RWD car into FWD. Too many FWD cars are bland because of the amount of understeer. He definitely knows his shit, and it's great that he's expanding his knowledge and experimenting with new things to bring 2 different but same physics of worlds together. There's no doubt he's learned from his past mistakes. I can't wait to see his creative and engineering mind put to use with his full control and potential.

[@creamcookies8022]

We need this car in India man, such a shame, love that thing ❤️

[@tonightwerideee]

philosophy is so key in all we do

[@noblemav]

Very good interview.

[@MikeStoddart]

I like where Kia & Hyundai are going in 2020 except for Hyundai's styling. Their vehicles are becoming more and more interesting to me.

[@mx5hong]

I just started watching the video. So I'm hoping you asked why Hyundai is not bringing the i30N to the US. It should be simple. Just call it the Elantra N and voila. Then I'm at the Hyundai dealer picking out the color.

[@G0ddammitB0bBy69]

mx5hong if they release an elentra N in the US, then I’ll be the first one to buy it! I’ll be getting it in black haha.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

While they were talking about adding N cars, you may notice when I ask at the end he just smiled. In other words we hear the phrase "we can't talk about future product" a lot.

[@93455Driver]

Makes u wonder about the market research groups they were holding.....in what part of the US are they saying a Veloster N is more desirable than an Elantra N. "Yep, we one one door on that side and two on the passenger side.......oh and it must have "lost" in the middle of the name".

[@descriptiondescriptiondescript]

They don't even sell it in Korea lol

[@mx5hong]

@@descriptiondescriptiondescript I know!!! I recently checked Hyundai's home market site and no i30N. Just the regular i30. I only found the Veloster N.

[@fragu123]

Competent!👍

[@JoeyFlowers]

It's interesting how he now has an almost German AND Korean accent, after living in Korea.

[@yongutsa]

Mr. Biermann, don't say you have designed the new Elantra and Sonnata please :(

[@bonifaciomagdiwang1697]

This is just the Beginning of this performance car from Hyundai

[@paintedbird6791]

Tom, Great interview. If Albert is not having a lot of fun working in Korea, he is a **y. Seems like Albert has infused German and Korean corporate cultures to himself quiet well. I can't wait to buy one for my younger daughter and wait for my wife's scream 'It is a stick shift!!' laugh and drive all the way to high Sierra. $30k for this car - I can see long wait list like their electric vehicles and dealer mark-up of 3K.

[@troy9er]

Hyundai has improved their cars by leaps and bounds in the last few years. Albert is just their latest improvement, however probably their best so far!! I sold Luxury cars from 1999 to 2010. Then Obama totally screwed up our economy and Luxury cars sales dropped like a rock. I saw the 2010 Sonata and was blown away. After doing some checking into it, I made the decision to move to Hyundai! They were selling like crazy and their quality was almost on par with the Luxury brands I was previously selling. We’re they as quiet and smooth as the Luxury brands? No, but they were a fraction of the price!!!! Cars are a deprecating asset not an investment and most of my customers knew that. What a great value for the $ spent. I retired from car sales in 2015 but bought my wife a 2015 Elantra Limited just before retiring. We love it and it has been trouble free since day one. Needless to say, I a BIG Hyundai fanboy. Thinking about a Veloster N for me this summer. 👍🏻

[@alexandergoldman]

Interesting...except the 'Obama' totally screwed up the economy. I really like to hear from ppl who say this...to see their perspective. How exactly did he screw up the economy from 2010?

[@jasonhall3693]

So this is what Albert is up to nowadays. Is he still friends with Hitch and how's Alexa Cole doing?

[@endzmeetmusic9053]

It was famous for the shitty Excel. They have come along way

[@mrbadx19]

OMG... Hyundais are the biggest POS, where did i learn this? from a tow truck driver! most of his tows are hyundai warranty tows. BMWs are a close second, my mom has a 325i and it sat in a garage for a few years, needed $6000 just to make it run. i'd buy a citroen 2CV before i'd buy a hyundai or BMW.

[@G0ddammitB0bBy69]

mr bad example I love Hyundai.

[@mrbadx19]

@@G0ddammitB0bBy69 develop a good relationship with your tow truck driver. my car is 11 years old, my starter went out a month ago, had a 40 minute tow to the dealership, i picked his brain, thinking about a new car, what was the worst? Hyundai. the guy who tows cars knows cars.

[@techpappee]

JD Powers best quality for 2018, all three top spots are Hyundais. # 1Genesis, #2 Kia and #3 Hyundai. Consumer Reports top picks in reliability for 2018, #1 Genesis, #6 Kia the first non luxury brand near the top. Hyundai at 11th, right between Toyota and Honda. Thats out of 32 brands btw... www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2018-us-initial-quality-study-iqs Hyundai motor group isnt the same company they were even 5 years ago. They're producing some of the most awarded vehicles on the road today. I could share horror stories of bad products from nearly every manufacture that produces vehicles. It isn't only those two that have ever had a problem. Heck the NEW Honda CRVs are having major engine issues, oil and gas mixing in engine. China has already called for a recall with the US most likley not far behind. I could share many others from several well known brands.

[@tjs114]

Funny, according to AAA, Hyundai and Kia are among the lower towing numbers in Northern California. And AAA contracted towing services account for about 80 percent of all towing in the area. Nissan is actually number 1 in their metrics.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

While I believe tow operators have thankless and at times dangerous jobs, I leave statistical analytics to the pros.

[@swanblake]

Im sorry but Germans are so full of it. This guy is about the money. Period. M cars have been on a steady decline of fun to just lifeless speed and he had everything to do with that. No idea why he gets any praise. Look at how well the Ford ST and Honda products handle. Hyundai cars still aren't there. Wish them the best but I don't think he is the savior he is said to be. Peter Schreyer is the man that made Kia/Hyundai relevant. Not Biermann

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Have you ever considered that Albert left BMW because he felt the company wasn't as committed as it once was Blake? And let's not forget he's not been there very long and it will take another couple years before suspension components and steering racks are designed from the start the way he prefers. I hear what you're saying but it took 3-4 years before Kia design was transformed by Peter Schreyer. Currently, I give the company an A for effort. I'm happy to see improved driving dynamics from any automaker. And drive the N before you think it doesn't stack up against ST and Type R...

[@chele089]

This is all sorts of backwards. Peter Schreyer is German too. So are Fiesta and Focus ST, developed in Germany. How does that make EVERY German SO full of it? Get over yourself.

[@fredepstein]

Just drive a Kia Stinger GT to qualify better your opinion and see how capable this guy is. He was BMW Engineer during 30 years and left about 6 years ago.

[@alexandergoldman]

Yo Blake, how do you know this guy is about money only? Sources please. How do you know he was the guy behind the decline of M? you think that Hyundai/kia/Genesis all of a sudden getting MASSIVE PRAISE in the press, just after he joined is only a coincidence? Have you driven a Veloster N? Dude, trolling a hobby of yours?

[@stevewise1656]

Great catch getting that interview.