Hyundai has finally launched the completed version of i20 WRC at Germany where it has its research centre and it was at this research centre that the car was actually built. The rally car prototype has undergone rigorous tests since it was first unveiled at the 2012 Paris Auto Show and now the car is ready to compete in the WRC event. Hyundai has also announced its team for the next World Rally Championship (WRC). Thierry Neuville will be the lead driver for the team and the additional drivers include Juho Hänninen, Dani Sordo and Chris Atkinson for the 2014 edition of WRC.
Hyundai also announced that it will be launching the “N” Performance edition derived out of the i20 WRC specifications. The company will incorporate inputs from the WRC car directly into the street legal “N” performance cars. This car which will be produced for the mass market and gets its name from the Research and Development centre in Namyang, South Korea. In essence, a sub-brand involving high performance cars has been created by Hyundai. Although, Hyundai will not compromise the comfort level on these cars. Thus N is to Hyundai what AMG, M, Mugen, TRD, Nismo are to Mercedes, BMW, Honda, Toyota and Nissan respectively.
The rally specced Hyundai i20 will sport a 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged engine producing well over 200 BHP and is expected to give the competition a run for its money. The WRC headquarters for Hyundai is based at Alzenau, Frankfurt although Hyundai is investing €5.5 million for the WRC programme by constructing a new research centre at the iconic Nurburgring. Hyundai had discontinued its participation in motorsport events back in 2003 and is now all prepared to make a strong comeback in the 2014 edition of the World Rally Championships. In addition, the “N” performance edition cars that are based on the rally specced models will be launched sometime in 2015 and will later be followed by more powerful Veloster Turbo and Genesis Coupe.
