---
title: "Hyundai N Division Won’t Rule Out Competing With Porsche"
description: "RM19, is that you we're looking for?"
date: "2020-01-01"
modified: "2020-01-01"
authors:
  - name: "James Gilboy"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/31686/hyundai-n-division-wont-rule-out-competing-with-porsche"
categories:
  - "Hyundai News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Racing"
tags:
  - "Hyundai"
---

# Hyundai N Division Won’t Rule Out Competing With Porsche

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2019/11/Large-39453-HyundaiRM19-1-e1574180833255.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Once the helmsman of BMW's racy M division, Albert Biermann has turned Hyundai's own N division skunkworks into an overnight success. Cars like the phenomenal [Veloster N](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/28844/2019-hyundai-veloster-n-vs-2019-vw-golf-gti-comparison-review-two-hot-hatches-blitz-the-track>), the [prototype RM19](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/31106/the-hyundai-rm19-prototype-proves-that-mid-engined-halo-sports-car-is-in-the-works>), and reportedly terrific i30 N (unavailable in the United States), informed now-great expectations of future N cars, which Biermann revealed in an interview could go as far upmarket as Hyundai pleases—as long as there's money to be made.

"All N cars need to be sensibly priced relative to whatever rivals they are in competition with," Biermann told [*Evo*](<https://www.evo.co.uk/hyundai/202071/renaissance-man-albert-biermann-and-how-he-transformed-hyundai>) as part of a chat on the N brand's future. "But as you'll see in the near future, there are no specific financial limits to what kind of cars we will make. If I think it's the right time to make a mid-engined N car that can [rival a Porsche](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/22079/mercedes-amg-is-preparing-a-porsche-718-rival-report-says>), and when we think it's the right time to make that car, we will make it. It's that simple. Maybe the powertrain might be a bit different to a conventional Porsche's, but philosophically there are no limits. As I say, we really are just at the beginning."

![message-editor%2F1577900212602-large-39383-hyundairm19.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1577900212602-large-39383-hyundairm19.jpg>)
*Hyundai RM19 Prototype, *Hyundai**

Biermann's talk of a mid-engined N car capable of competing with Porsches calls to mind the aforementioned [RM19](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/31106/the-hyundai-rm19-prototype-proves-that-mid-engined-halo-sports-car-is-in-the-works>) prototype; a roughly Veloster-shaped model with a mid-mounted, 390-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder coupled to a sequential gearbox and rear-wheel drive. Hyundai describes the RM19 as "a development platform for future N brand products, including a potential brand-halo car," which suggests Hyundai could be winding up a sucker punch aimed at the Porsche Cayman and the [forever on the cusp of death](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/30899/alfa-romeo-4c-spider-lives-on-in-the-us-despite-cancellation-rumors>) Alfa Romeo 4C.

Again, with how good the Veloster N turned out, as well as N's tuning of the brand's other cars, a mid-engined Hyundai is a prospect worth taking seriously—Hyundai surprised the sports car world before, so don't consider it something Namyang couldn't do agai-*N*.

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## Author
James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids."

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/jamesgilboy>)