Hyundai’s high-performance ‘N’ division is celebrating a decade of pushing boundaries, and to mark the occasion, the i30 Sedan N TCR race car will be added to the popular racing simulator Gran Turismo 7 in January 2026. The announcement came at the Gran Turismo World Series 2025 Final in Fukuoka, Japan, highlighting a long-standing partnership between Hyundai and Polyphony Digital, the game’s creator.
The Evolution of Hyundai N
Launched in 2015 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Hyundai N was created to rival established performance brands like BMW’s M division, Mercedes-Benz’s AMG, and Nissan’s Nismo. Named after the Namyang district in South Korea – where Hyundai’s R&D center is based – the N division quickly gained traction with models like the i30 Sedan N TCR. This race-bred version of the i30 has already secured three FIA TCR World Tour drivers’ championships and two Australian TCR titles with driver Josh Buchan in 2023 and 2024.
From Concept to Reality
Hyundai’s initial foray into high performance was demonstrated with the N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo, a 650kW hydrogen-powered concept car first showcased in 2015. It then appeared in Gran Turismo Sport. The division now has four performance models available in Australia: the i20 N, i30 N, i30 Sedan N, and the all-electric Ioniq 5 N. The Ioniq 6 N is slated for an Australian release in 2026.
Expanding Performance Horizons
Hyundai isn’t stopping there. Its luxury brand, Genesis, will also enter the performance market locally with the GV60 Magma early next year. While a special road-going version of the i30 Sedan N TCR launched overseas in late 2024, it has yet to reach Australian showrooms. In Gran Turismo 7, the race car will be known as the ‘Elantra N TCR,’ reflecting the model’s name in international markets.
Hyundai’s commitment to performance is clear: it’s not just about building faster cars, but also integrating them into the digital world where racing enthusiasts can experience the thrill firsthand. This move solidifies Hyundai N’s position as a serious contender in the high-performance automotive landscape.
