Albert Biermann explains why the Hyundai Kona N & the Hyundai Elantra N exist!

[@TonyKimtheamusementparkfan]

Albert Biermann is such a legend in the automotive industry, and the fact that Hyundai brought him in showed that they were serious about beefing up their high performance N division. I mean the fact that he worked at BMW's M division for 18 years is nothing to sneeze at, he knows what he's doing, he knows fun driving dynamics, and amazing performance.

[@JW-ri1mb]

Wow, another home run interview with another legendary auto icon. Much appreciation for these interviews that give us insight into the engineering and development of the cars we love!

[@curtbrown554]

I just got a new Veloster N a couple days ago, and I can't believe how much fun it is to drive. I'm coming from a Stinger GT, and Alfa Giulia before that, and the Veloster is far more fun. Obviously not as comfortable or practical, but insanely fun.

[@Shawn12399]

I rented one for a few days and at this point I’m just patiently waiting for the Elantra N. I’ve had a few Mustangs and a Focus ST and none of them put as much smiles on my face than the Veloster N. Like you said it’s not the most comfortable but once you hear that exhaust, you forget about everything! Enjoy the car man

[@arthurmroyce]

Welcome to the club! I have a 2020 VN w/PP.

[@ronaldcreighton3289]

I'm 61 years old and I'm picking up my new competition blue six-speed manual Veloster next Saturday. Great grandpa car!

[@nct5724]

I have over 4K on my Kona N now and love it more each time I drive it..Thanks for the courage to put out a quality inexpensive fun vehicle..

[@elyj.8612]

Love what HMG is doing with the N sub brand, but at some point, car manufacturers need to help the people who wants those cars to prevent the dealers to abuse the consumers as they are relentlessly marking up prices. The value of the N brand is being killed by dealerships in America. Congratulations for another great interview!!

[@loseerich493]

Nail ----> Head.

[@ciello___8307]

unfortunately dealers (at least in the states) have a lot of autonomy in how they price cars

[@Wazza722]

what’s hmg?

[@dinohermann1887]

@@Wazza722 Hyundai Motor Group, which includes Genesis, Kia and Hyundai themselves.

[@UltimaRSfan]

Something for Mr. Biermann: Thank you very much for doing this!!! Thank you for keeping 'fun alive' For Motoman: Thank you for your in depth reviews and interviews. I picked my 2018 Hyundai Elantra sport (manual) based a lot on your review with Nathan from fast lane.

[@psewgobind]

Mr. Biermann is awesome. How could BMW let this guy go?

[@Motorlytics]

Waiting on my elantra n right now. Can't wait to get it. Literally perfect daily driver in my option compared to anything on the market.

[@ryanm9628]

I bought a Kona N. I’m happily surprised. All the reviews are spot on. Great car!

[@brianraap8543]

Thanks to you for talking with him and thanks to him and Hyundai for keeping the fun alive in driving! I hope the consumer embraces every N vehicle.

[@davidtranmedia5112]

What a legend! Thank you for making the Kona N. I just got a 2023 Kona N for my wife. Will be getting an Elantra N or New Civic R soon to add to the Kona N. Please make more N cars. I am a customer for life.

[@Scorpio1075]

I love N mode, I use it on exit ramps and winding roads. Custom mode is my preferred choice for daily driving.

[@postygrant]

Smart mode allows for your controls and how fast you press on the gas to allow it go in and out of sport and normal mode. It also changes your suspension reaction or something along those lines if I am not mistaken.

[@georgevigil7001]

I really hope they keep the suspension stiff on N models and not water it down. I want to get an N sometime in the future but am waiting to see what they have for 2023.

[@matthewtmcdonough]

I love my 2023 Kona N. Admittedly, I was looking for an Elantra N and saw the Kona N at the dealer and knew that moment I pull buy that car. I have added the OEM alcantara wheel, shifter and hand brake. Making this feel as good as it drives. I would buy a second one as I love this car so much.

[@thepassionofthegoose5472]

I love how no one is talking about them build in the perfect tarmac rally car. Seriously, it's even slightly lifted relative to the non-N models. Getting mine in the spring.

[@jorgbrouwers5099]

Really like your thinking Albert 👍🏼 listening to the customer, there are not many car companies that actually do that. Totally agree on the brakes and the gearbox, spent money where it matters, safe where you can. Ohw and “kona” means “wife” in Norwegian, thought you’d like to know 😅

[@loseerich493]

If they wanted to they could rule the 'average consumer performance car world' with these products. What's standing in their way is their own dealer network. Love to see them set hard prices on N cars, that is, pricing agreements that would forbade dealers from markups. They couldn't sell these cars fast enough if that were to happen. Right now a lot of people won't touch them solely due to not wanting to pay insanely greedy dealers.

[@kubek555]

it’s quite unbelievable what this guy has achieved with Hyundai N, especially in such a short time

[@bundy26]

The story about how the Kona came to be reminded me of how the 94-96 Impala was born. I believe Jon Moss (worked at GM) at the time had a neighbor who had a square body caprice painted black with alloy wheels. He took it to GM to show it off trying to sell the new body style caprice as an SS.

[@klasseact6663]

Thank you for bringing driving bliss to us who have stepped up to this brand🙏❗️🏁😉

[@astroboy862]

Great interview...I loved the design of the Kona from day one, but I'd love to see an AWD N Kona...I think that would give the car some performance hatch credence.. great interview again...

[@frankENZC]

Great interview! I'm really enjoying my 2021 Veloster n with the DCT transmission!

[@gavinj01]

Great interview. Thank you Mr. Biermann for engineering high performance per dollar. I would like to see a sunroof in the manual version please. But I will be buying an N in performance blue when available. Keep up the great work Hyundai. Any way to get your signature on it somewhere??

[@Jorge_Magallon]

Could you imagine an “Inside the Motoman Studio” Roundtable with Mr. Bierman, Dave Leone of Cadillac and Dave Coleman of Mazda? I would watch that… repeatedly.

[@MotoManTV]

Be careful what you wish for . . .

[@FeuerhammerX]

Thanks. Thus cleared up a lot of questions I had about the direction of N

[@jamisonz3365]

Wow I love this interview. I can see the N boss is a very smart guy who knows what his customers want. I've also seen journalists or KZbinrs criticized the high performance SUVs are too stiff, which is nonsense. For example the X5M and X6M are two of the most successful products in this segments. Like he said, the real customers want it to be stiff and sporty like that. And I also like the first part about the market potential. From my experience I agree with you Moto man, I think only high HP luxury SUV sells like X6M. But we also didn't believe that back then before they came out. I love how confident he is, I think the N brand has a bright future under his management.

[@Pabs502]

Have a kona N and I love it, and Albert is so right congrats man 👍🏼

[@sky-ih9cu]

Love his insight..I had a bimmer years ago a 2.8L 2000 Z3..loved it..I love my Veloster N..sorry to see it go tho...He is a great addition to Hyundai..My VN of all cars I've had is the most fun..Such a riot!!!..so many features on N cars..My fave setting to have fun driving around in some traffic is Suspension always in Normal, exhaust sport plus, steering I love in sport..like the heavier feel of it, and all other in sport..when I"m on fun fun roads I bump everything to sport plus, except as I said suspension stays in the softest mode.. The Vn is such a fun car.. and I waited until the 2021, because I wanted the new sports seats and I wanted performance blue..Got mine in January 2021 and could't be happier.. Just sad the VN will no longer be made, was hoping for more changes for it. Anyway, glad Mr. B went to Hyundai!!!!

[@iordaniskaravasilis]

I’m hoping the next gen Sonata N looks good. I’m currently in a 2017 Elantra Sport, luv it.

[@Chr1sT0fu]

There won't be a Sonata N

[@jamesgage1365]

Excellent interview. HMG has the right guy at the helm.

[@TheHoth1]

“Fun per dollar”. Believe it or not, it is very important to us, customers, too;) Right on!

[@HaruHaruman]

The new Elantra N is just a fucking masterpiece. Drives sooooo much better and more fun than the RS3 or M4. Not to mention the GTI.

[@johannkieser5613]

Can’t wait to collect my Kona N got it on order since 11/01/22. Hopefully I will see it in July / August 2022 no one have the primer in stock in Australia.

[@jamiel5844]

Great interview! I just put a deposit down on an Elantra N and can’t wait!

[@aurorajones8481]

6:42 Hyundai is a HUGE company they have such a barts/tool bin to draw from. They make their own metal! They build ships! Heavy equipment, on and on these guys are serious. Their "inhouse" might be the biggest in the industry bar none sans Mitzubishi but they are not focused in the US car market like Hyundai is but they would be a match in world industry pull.

[@carlocotignola1644]

Love the cars! Honestly the biggest concern is actually being able to get that fun per dollar because the dealerships want to bang people over the head to get an N model

[@IceDree]

I can't speak of driving dynamics as I yet to drive an N car. I'd like to see more splash of colors inside to further distinguish the N cars from the regular garden variety Hyundais. Have the seatbelts (I could've sworn one of the Ns have them) & contrast stitching in Performance Blue to match the steering wheel buttons. Maybe have the handbrake lever and the shifter boots wrapped in synthetic alcantara. Small touches like that go along away, see Porsche GTS cars for an example. As for the exterior, maybe have the brake calipers in N's performance blue instead of red. Oh and of course, a sunroof. Excellent work like always, M. I enjoyed listening to Mr Biermann again.

[@1209MArky]

They have blue seatbelts, buttons, and stitching..

[@JustinKelly]

@@1209MArky Not in the US, they don't (Outside the Veloster). The seat belts are black on the Elantra and Kona N. The blue stitching is very faint and limited to the seats, steering wheel, and shifter boot. There needs to be more color accenting on the interior to break up all the black, hard plastics on the dash and door panels. Something like what the Elantra GT offered with the N Line and red interior accents.

[@karmahunden]

Would’ve loved to see the first rendition of the KN with the lowered suspension, as engineers intended. Also, if the KN is the most fun per dollar out there, does that mean it’s more fun than the EN?

[@armandoo2950]

All I have to say is Thank You Mr Biermann!!

[@martinalvarado8109]

love my elantra N

[@GOINFINITI]

Question: Are they thinking about expanding performance variants to other HMG brands like Genesis and KIA? It would make sens to share components and come up with other "HOT" brand versions since all that money was spent on research for Hyundai N anyway.

[@snkcorp.502]

Mr. Biermann, we need the Elantra N in Europe. Please make it happen. Just seen one on an kr channel in cyber grey with heated and cooled seats. So great.

[@_dmfd]

We'll trade you for the i30N

[@_dmfd]

Here in the States we had ( recently removed ) the Elantra GT ( i30 ) in Sport and N-Line. It has the 1.6T but has all the nice and fancy features including the cooled seats, pano sunroof, dct etc. I own the GT Sport and it's such an awesome every day car. But the 1.6T isn't enough for most people. Alot of us over here are very disappointed that they took the EGT away for the Kona. We would have much rather had the i30N over Kona N.

[@93455Driver]

Great interview! Couple of ideas for Hyundai, with the N cars, create versions with all the Ultimate features like cooled seats. With the Genesis G70, at some may be nice create an N type of subgroup of performance variant for folks who really like the car but want more handling prowess (and looking for an alternative to the BMW, AMG, etc.).

[@josephschepis7258]

Looking forward to Elantra N. Performance sedan at affordable price, exciting to drive.

[@markhedekar4880]

I just bought a 2023 Elantra N. Love the car. Hyundai, please build a Santa Cruz N. I'll buy it.

[@camwilliams6886]

Amazing interview

[@ae86fiend]

I need some N performance parts for my Kia! I can't wait until the parts are available for sale

[@ttinnovations3310]

tell Hyundai Corp, I was in California Concord Hyundai dealer trying to buy a Kona N, they wanted + $10K for a $35K car almost 20-25% over MSRP !!!! that CRAZY !!!

[@JTube571]

Please bring the i20 N to North America! We need something MORE affordable, mid to high 20's is perfect.

[@marquisemorrison5154]

I do have one question. Why couldn’t they put the N bucket seats in the Kona N ?

[@1209MArky]

Kona is supposed to be the comfortable daily driver N

[@qlmotorsport]

Can you ask someone at Hyundai why the Veloster N doesn't have heated seats in the USA when the Kona N & the Elentra N do?

[@Mmb0927]

Love my Elantra n. One thing I wish they would do make one awd this would be the next evo So many people would buy this car awd.

[@Flatfourdetailing]

Just found out he retired and the veloster N is getting cut. Wow

[@RyanDaltonWrites]

Great interview, thanks!

[@Awsme]

This man is the goat

[@valeriozoncheddu1033]

A question when are you releasing the Hyundai elantra N 2022 ? Hurry up please

[@fromisheon4867]

Why kona n no manual tho?

[@mugdays]

A Hyundai Elantra has a dual clutch and the BMW M5 CS has a torque converter automatic. Wild.

[@ciello___8307]

modern automatics are So good. They are pretty much as quick as the hyundai DCT but smoother

[@dunkelheit6341]

I really like his jacket. I wonder if it's available to purchase?

[@carsandcoldbrew6489]

We need a new rwd Genesis coupe with Mpower influence please Biermann! 😅

[@oscarwilliam3224]

ok but what about a release date?

[@drumflip1253]

Just bought a Kona N last night in Poway ca.

[@davidplauche6459]

Great interview. My question is why not offer Kona N with a manual transmission? From what I've been able to gather from available information the Kona seems to be better daily driver with more driver safety features like adaptive cruise and lane keep when compared to Elantra N. However, the lack of a manual has me cross shopping with the usual competition.

[@ronaldcreighton3289]

I would have got the Kona with the manual, but instead I'm getting the Veloster six-speed manual competition blue Saturday

[@eduardoguillen6385]

I am in the market for a Kona and I Really like the N but is not AW drive and it does not have a sunroof, that’s for me is a very important so I am going to wait until the do, or get something else. Please please! Add AWD and option to add a sunroof.

[@garyclark6747]

The fact that you can suspend NGS and then re-engage it in a quicker interval than prior will work well on a short twisty track. BRAVO‼️ Previous N’s would have you wait in the timeout box until you could use it again which then becomes a whole short track strategy on which straightaways or long turns you care to use it in. For daily-ability or street-ability; a glass top would open the cabin to that free spirited feel Kona N delivers with the added.visual input of speed passing that corner of your eye as you carve a forrest winding road or slip briskly through a tree line street. Thanks for building a fun car for the masses Albert. 👍🏼🎉

[@DriverJ-N]

man i just feel the markups are going to kill me :(

[@christianmbabazi9722]

Will there ever be a consideration for a sonata N

[@stevethomas760]

Kona N with a manual transmission. I seriously would be at a dealership tomorrow. Wanting to replace an aging WRX in '22 wagon and the only piece missing for me is a third pedal

[@noahi23]

Big fan of these interviews. Also, nice socks MotoMan!

[@MotoManTV]

Thanks!

[@jeffsiemens4485]

Why no blue seatbelts in Elantra n??

[@jcr57rt]

Nice video!

[@스테판신토불이]

비어만 형님 인터뷰인데 조회수가 1만이 안되네 ㄷㄷㄷ

[@inomad]

I feel like I want an Elantra N when my lease expires in 2 years.

[@stephenhendricks103]

Mr. Biermann is a great engineer and nearly as good a marketeer. The Kona N is an impressive vehicle but it is not a crossover, much less an SUV. It's a hatchback and a hot one at that. The fact that its ground clearance of 6.3" is more than the 5.4" of a MK7.5 GTi doesn't make it an SUV. But the market analysts at Hyundai are well aware that the magic term "SUV" is far more appealing in the marketplace, especially in the US, than "hatchback." They're likewise well aware that the Veloster is an unusual vehicle with narrow niche appeal. And while it's still for sale in its "N" trim, it will almost certainly disappear within a year or two.

[@JustinKelly]

Exactly. It is a hatchback for those who may not be a "true" enthusiast. Kona rides higher, power seat sits higher (Than manual equivalent), and is priced higher than Elantra N. But it has the magic "SUV/CUV" name and feel (mostly from seating position). Give me the I30 N please.

[@stephenhendricks103]

@@JustinKelly I'm not into defining "true" enthusiasts. They come in a variety of flavors. And as an owner of several GTIs over the years, I'm impressed by the Kona N. I wouldn't trade my current GTI (nor the MK8) for one but it's an impressive hatchback on (very short) stilts. As for the i30N, if you can distinguish the Elantra N from the i30N, I'd like to know the differences.

[@oraclemiata845]

It’s a friggn hot hatch. Call a spade a spade.

[@mowglig9382]

Kona N Rally Beast.

[@sniper2606]

Albert is a genius, I have the 2022 Kona N and the new 2024 M2 and I swear the Kona has better steering feel, it feels Hydraulic and stiff the new M2 the steering feeling is too light. Needles to say this man left BMW and the M department has not been the same

[@levigato125]

Good interview. TFL’s Roman would of talked all over him.

[@David5Suggs]

Good luck to anyone wanting to buy an Elantra N. $4k-10K Markups Nationwide. & the dealers that are selling for MSRP have been presold already.. and if you want to order one? Have fun waiting 6+ months for it to come in.

[@wezlee117]

I love everything about the car except for the fact that it isn’t all wheel drive. I’m assuming it has a lot to do with the balance of the weight. But I’d pay an extra 5K USD for AWD. I can get over the hard touch plastic

[@thepassionofthegoose5472]

Unless you live in an area where AWD is essential, which isn't many, FWD is fine for performance driving. Besides, most AWD cars are FWD bias so in the end you're really only getting FWD with better weather-ability.

[@carloscervantes836]

@@thepassionofthegoose5472 I see the angle, however, my brother, AWD EV Kona N.... :D

[@dinohermann1887]

You can buy the T-Roc R if you want a hot crosshatch with AWD.

[@ronnymb67]

I wish you asked him about the Sonata N Line lack of an LSD. Yes the suspension and braking are a huge step from the 2.5 and 1.6T Sonatas and I get it's not a full on N, but they did add 100hp to the chassis.

[@christianmbabazi9722]

Maybe hopefully they'll add that in next year or the year after 🤞

[@tedtedness184]

@@christianmbabazi9722 You mean the non "e: LSD that would of cost Hyundai $250 to put in in the first place. Don't count on it. Hyundai only makes "5/8 baked street cars"

[@robertshetsen8691]

Put manual on cona n please

[@carloscervantes836]

You hear that boys? Substantial transmission @7:40 Green light to tune this little monster to 400hp/ft-lb?

[@Carver_08_08]

Great video. My only problem with the Elantra N is why it doesn't have a sunroof like the DCT version ? The DCT is cool but i want to be able to shift my own gears. Really want this car.

[@borisrz3080]

If I remember correctly, it’s because people who buy manuals tend to be more serious about track days therefore, keeping weight and center of gravity low without a sunroof. Something like that.

[@Carver_08_08]

@@borisrz3080 that's true. I just want to have everything in my car. 😅

[@valeriozoncheddu1033]

Hey albert Biermann can you make sure that the Elantra N is released in EUROPE already cause it makes no sense releasing it in 1 markets not the others. By the way you guys said if enough people want it you release it but if you don't advertise it people won't know about it (Elantra N 2022) with all do respect

[@aurorajones8481]

0:23 Hillarious. You are an official taking an un official image and by placing it so prominently in your office id argue that made it "official". I find that hilarious. If only the artist knew this. Id be BLOWN away if I were the artists knowing this. Love it.

[@JDubbs07]

I wish you had asked him why no AWD version. I like the philosophy of embracing torque steer as a feature, but when I see SUV I think AWD. Given he mandated the ride height stay the same, I'm surprised AWD didn't stay in the conversation as well.

[@1209MArky]

He’s answered this 100 times. Unnecessary cost and development.

[@JDubbs07]

@@1209MArky I don't think I've seen an answer anywhere. There's nothing unnecessary about having AWD on an SUV, especially considering the regular Kona already has it and they have an in-house rear differential that can handle the torque of the 2.0T

[@Th3An0malyy]

Where is my Hyundai Tuscani N? Supercar looks with attainable performance cost....

[@JustinKelly]

Here is where I sit from a long time Hyundai Enthusiast perspective (Before N was a thing). I love to see the ongoing development from the N team with new models but are they giving us what we really want? I would argue close, but not quite. Some are small tweaks that could be done in packaging and equipment but others are much more drastic. The Elantra N is priced correctly and packaged fairly well so I give them props for that. But why does the front need to have the look it does? Finish painting the front end and call it a day. In terms of the Kona N, it really bothers me hearing Albert describe the justification for not lowering it! Here in the US we won't have a true hot hatch once the Veloster is gone (and that wasn't even a good example). So us begging for the I30 N (PLEASE!) are left with the Kona N which rides too high, seating position is too tall, and is SMALLER on the inside than the I30 N not to mention the interior looks/feels cheaper than the European counterpart. Then there is the pricing of the Kona N which is more than the Elantra which won't help its case either unless people actually buy into the marketing over time. Overall, it just frustrates me to see how Hyundai (and North America) has abandoned the hatchback for these CUV's. The Elantra GT was just gaining its stride in the final two model years and people love the car! (I run the owners group) It was truly packaged almost perfectly and priced very competitively (with a little discount) not to mention got the European design and interior feel. People actually miss the car when they get rid of it. This is what enthusiasts want but I fear we will be forced to look at alternatives that will come in true hatchback form in the future but all together the true hatchback is dying over here...

[@borisrz3080]

I regret not getting the Elantra GT N-Line before being discontinued. Disappoints me that Hyundai didn’t use the Elantra GT as their first N model in North America. Was the closest thing that resembled the i30N with great practically unlike the Veloster. Veloster N is a nice looking vehicle but it isn’t practical design like the Elantra GT.

[@themarenda]

To maximise profits. Same engine, same platform, 3 different types of car, everyone does it, vw does it across 4 brands

[@Jaysa11]

When are we going to see 4wd ICE performance suv ?

[@pin9r]

Well I love Hyundais effort with N and could listen to mr. Biermann for days, but I’m not sure he’s right about the stiffness of the suspension. At least in Germany nearly any i30N customer drives in „normal“ suspension mode (even on the Nürburgring nordschleife). N mode is only suitable for gp tracks. I guess a softer setting, instead of N stiffness would do the job. On the other hand, I guess N has done a lot of market research to gather evidence for mr. Biermann‘s statement…

[@superior54]

Tell him to watch Spider-Man hyundai

[@Carrman2020]

I see that Albert Biermann has announced his retirement today…

[@hardyk2010]

This guy is turning around Hyundai Kia & is giving others a run for their money. Can't wait to buy my Ioniq 5.

[@_dmfd]

Hyundai is talking bout firing him too smh

[@EM.1.]

He sounds like Dr.Strange Love, lol.

[@michaellee8957]

👏

[@jayrichards3672]

Ole school chebby guy I like Fun/$$ period I'll have to try one on at local dealer. Thanks MM

[@GodChildNameQ]

I'm on my 3rd Hyundai product and would love to be leaning towards my 4th. I have owned a 2004 Hyundai Tiburon GTV6, 2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track, and now 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track with 13k on the odometer. I would love to purchase a Hyundai Veloster N or Kona N but neither nor has a sunroof. There are things one love to have with their vehicle and a sunroof is one of those things. I cannot understand how Hyundai offer a sunroof in the Elantra N but only with the DCT equipped vehicle. I drive manuals only (a dying breed of vehicle) but would buy a Kona N with the DCT if it had a sunroof. Biermann we need a sunroof in these vehicles. Keep me in a Hyundai product and out of a Subaru WRX STi Limited as an option.

[@tedtedness184]

The guy on the right, WRECKED the Kona N AWD. An epic car that "could of been. Sadly, we received a "crippled" 2WD "high roll center" "also ran".

[@ShowMeWhatINeedToKnow]

5:39 -- He really needs to listen to feedback from the media. They would sell a lot more N cars if the suspension wasn't ridiculously stiff.

[@shari_8410]

the only thing which i really can't understand , is why the regular Kona got a full Adaptive Cruise Control with stop and Go Feature and the N Kona dosn't got it ? just a lite Version without Stop & Go Feature ... same with some other stuff where the regular Kona come with and the N Kona dosen't ... also what i wondering about is , i saw a lot of Kona N Reviews now here on KZbin , and their Kona N's do all have a different Cupholder as my Kona N here in Germany ?? So please Hyundai / N keep all the Models in the same way of Building , and please stop to make your Models Building diffrently .. The Model A ( Regular Kona , Kona N Line ,Kona Electro ,Kona Hybrid ) get all that features , hhhhhmmm ääähm and the Model B ( Kona N ) dont get that features ...very unfair in my opinion ..

[@JustinKelly]

As far as I know, cars with Adaptive Cruise must have electronic parking brake. This is one reason it doesn't have it.