THREE WORDS CAME to embody the development program for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, forming a mantra that latterly informed every engineering and calibration decision. They were originally appended to the end of an email in an exchange between Albert Biermann and a group of engineers, one of whom was becoming frustrated that the project was in danger of drifting from its original goals. These three words created a sudden and focused course correction.
“DRIVING STILL MATTERS”.
Biermann’s title today reads Executive Technical Advisor. You may well have heard some reports that have suggested the German has taken a bit of a back seat with regards to vehicle development at Hyundai, but it’s clear that he’s still deeply involved, more recently with the scope of an even bigger challenge than Ioniq 5 N; an affordable electrified small N car.
He’s in an expansive mood today, keen to talk about the genesis of a sports car that’s quite unlike anything else in the market. He’s under no illusions as
