2015 Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo

The Vision Gran Turismo project has provided quite the list of poster-worthy concept vehicles from some of the biggest automakers in the world. The 2015 Volkswagen GTi Supersport looked positively gnarly. The 2015 SRT Tomahawk was sheer and utter madness. And don’t even get me started on the 2015 Chevrolet Chaparral 2X. To this day, I still can’t wrap my head around that thing. Today, though, isn’t the day to reminisce on what’s already been launched. Today is the day all of us welcome another virtual concept to the Vision Gran Turismo roster. It comes by way of Hyundai, and it’s called the N 2025.

There aren’t that many details about the N 2025 out yet. The N 2025 will make its debut on Sept. 15th at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show .

The company did drop some teaser photos of the concept before the covers are officially pulled. Best remember, though, as exciting as it is to see the N 2025 in all its glory, don’t expect to see it as a production race car. Not today, not tomorrow, and certainly not in 2025.

The "N" in the concept’s name is only a mere mention of the company’s upcoming "N" performance division. Sure, the concept might include some designs and technologies that Hyundai could implement in the future, but like all the VGT concepts, the N 2025 is meant more for the virtual world than the real one.

Updated 09/09/2015: With just a few days before its official debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, Hyundai dropped a series of new teaser images for its future N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo.

SOURCE:TOPSPEED

Exterior

So what can we make out of that beautiful piece of automotive goodness from under that sheet? Not a lot, I’m afraid. But that’s not going to stop me from speculating. The first thing I noticed is the way the sheet rests on the car, giving us a little bit of a hint on what the car’s profile is going to be. I’m fairly certain that it’s not going to be a traditional road-going concept car like the Mini Clubman Vision Gran Turismo . It doesn’t even follow the same lines as Alpine’s soapbox concept. The closest comp, from a Vision Gran Turismo standpoint, is Mazda’s LM55 VGT concept .

The massive wheel arches of the Hyundai concept flank a valley-like hood, similar to how Le Mans racers are designed. A shot of a closed cockpit on another teaser seems to back that notion up, as does that vertical stabilizer (Big Honking Fin alert!) that’s quite easy to notice.

Other than these few bits and pieces, Hyundai’s doing a good job keeping a lid on the N 2025.

Interior

The interior is a complete mystery at this point, but if it does take the shape of a Le Mans racer, expect to see the usual equipment found on any LM machine. A steering wheel will probably be in there somewhere, same with a racing seat, a six-point harness, and some switches and LED lights scattered around.

Now, here’s the caveat: What if it’s not an Le Mans racer of some sort? What if its actually a road-going concept that’s beyond even our wildest imaginations? Should that be the case, I’m prepared to see pretty much anything in that cabin.

Drivetrain

Note: 5.0-liter Tau V-8 from 2013 Hyundai Genesis shown here.

Another pickle of a section since nobody outside of Hyundai — and Polyphony Studios knows what kind of growler is sitting inside the N 2025. A modified version of the company’s 5.0-liter Tau V-8 seems like a logical choice. But that engine’s a little too big for a Le Mans-type race car. If a V-8’s too big, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder could work if it’s been turbocharged to smithereens.

Or it could just be a completely new drivetrain.

All The Cars Under The Vision Grand Turismo Project

Let’s steer away from the “what-if” rhetoric for a minute here and just look at these concepts the way they’re supposed to be. There’s a reason why they belong in the world of Gran Turismo. They’re supposed to be raced with the unadulterated intent of driving them balls-to-wall, with no repercussions to think about. Who cares if they crash into the wall? Just press “restart” and do it over again!

From that viewpoint, every car that’s been launched under the Vision Grand Turismo project is a worthy competitor to the N 2025. From the 2013 Mercedes-Benz Vision Gran Turismo Concept to the 2015 Peugeot Vision Gran Turismo Concept , each one of these VGT cars are hell to drive to when you’re gripping that video game controller.

So when the Hyundai N 2025 does become playable in Gran Turismo, be sure to line it up against one of its Vision Gran Turismo contemporaries. That’s what video game racing is all about.

Conclusion

I’ve been lucky to have had a go on a lot of these Vision Gran Turismo concepts. Some were a dream to drive while others where just completely uncontrollable. Obviously, I don’t have a verdict on the Hyundai N 2025 just yet.

As far as its design is concerned, I’m very optimistic about its chance to blow the roof off of Frankfurt. That always seems to be the case with these Vision Gran Turismo concepts and I don’t expect to see anything less out of the N 2025.

LOVE IT

• Should have a powerful engine underneath that body somewhere
• Profile hints at something really special
• Who knew Hyundai has become an expert in cutting-edge design

LEAVE IT

• Pull the covers a little more, Hyundai? Please?
• No details on the engine
• Stuck on the virtual world, I’m afraid

Press Release

Hyundai Motor will showcase its high performance sub-brand N at the Frankfurt International Motor Show 2015. The result of intensive testing and product development, the sub-brand N builds on Hyundai Motor’s successful motorsport experiences and technology capability to drive future performance-oriented and race-track-capable models forward and bring ‘the most thrilling winding road’ fun to customers who truly love cars.

The N builds on not just Hyundai Motor’s continued advancement as a primary competitor in World Rally Championship (WRC) but also on the company’s dedication and investment to create striking and pioneering high performance cars. It capitalizes on Hyundai Motor’s fast-growing strength and signifies the pace of change within the brand, matching the company’s ambition to challenge perceptions by making real and emotional connections with customers.

Highlighting Hyundai Motor’s passion for performance and engineering competency, a preview of the New Generation i20 WRC car will appear on stage during the motor show to demonstrate Hyundai Motor’s performance ambition.

Based on the New Generation i20, the rally car is the first prototype for the vehicle that will challenge for the podium in the 2016 WRC. Already undergoing a punishing testing, engineering and development regime, the new car is building up to its final rally-specification ahead of its debut at the start of the 2016 FIA World Rally Championship at Rallye Monte Carlo.

Furthermore, an ultimate concept car showing the brand’s perspective on future performance characteristics will be introduced during the Motor Show. The ‘Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo’* concept highlights sustainable technology and race car design, truly representing the future potential of Hyundai N. Through this new concept, Hyundai Motor is engaging further with its fans and the online community by making Hyundai’s passion and performance accessible to millions of people around the world.

In addition, the Hyundai RM15 concept car will be displayed, representing the company’s passion for performance and suggesting how the Hyundai N driver-focused technologies could come into production. The mid-engine concept, with a 2.0-liter 300ps engine, is undergoing further developments to apply high-performance technology to Hyundai Motor cars in many exciting ways.
Hyundai Motor’s press conference will take place in Hall 6 at 11:30 (CET) on Tuesday 15th September 2015.

* Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo: This concept is a new project by Hyundai Motor to be coming exclusively to PlayStation®’s Gran Turismo video game series.