A conversation with Hyundai's Albert Biermann

Former BMW M chief Albert Biermann came to Hyundai to spearhead their new N line of performance models. That worked out so well he's now been named Hyundai/Kia's head of R&D, and is the first non-Korean to hold that position. Under Biermann's leadership, Hyundai is steadily transforming into a brand with legit performance, motorsport and marketplace chops. Along with a few other journalists, we had a chance to sit with him recently during the 2019 Nurburgring 24 hour race. We discussed his memories of the 'Ring, the future of Hyundai performance and motorsports, and what it's like to build a global performance brand from scratch in a company previously associated with more utilitarian cars.