Heard of Albert Biermann? Well you should have – he’s currently vice president of BMW’s M Division, and has been with the brand for the past 30 years developing some of the greatest driving machines our roads have ever seen. So it might come as a surprise to hear that Mr. Biermann is leaving BMW for Hyundai.
That’s right; one of M Division’s top men is joining the Korean company, and its sister Kia by association, to help develop a new breed of performance vehicles for them, among other things. Biermann, who will start his new position in April this year, will be based at the Hyundai Group’s Research & Development centre in Namyang, Korea, and will be tasked with developing new high performance models, as well as oversee engineering projects relating to ride and handling, safety, and the mitigation of NVH (Noise, vibration and harshness).
By trading in M for N (N is the Hyundai performance division responsible for their WRC car that has been turning heads this season), Biermann will hopefully usher in a new era for Hyundai and Kia in terms of refinement and overall driving pleasure.
“I couldn’t be more excited to join Hyundai Motor Group. It is a company I have watched closely as it has taken on its key competitors and quickly established a strong customer base inEurope. 2015 is a key year for the brand with the launch of many all-new models and the start of its second season in WRC, so I am really looking forward to the challenge,” said Biermann about his appointment.
With an already impressive model portfolio at their disposal, could we see Hyundai grow into a true motoring powerhouse? With a former Audi designer and former BMW M division engineer in place, things are looking good for the Korean brand. We just have one question, when can we expect to see an M3 rival from Hyundai?
