Hyundai Is Bringing Carbon

Hyundai will partner with Dymag Wheels, maker of lightweight wheels, to develop carbon-fiber wheels for its N division.

For as long as they've been around, carbon-fiber wheels have been a luxury far out of reach for most of us. They've been on dedicated race cars or uber-expensive hypercars from manufacturers like Koenigsegg for years, and they've recently started to pop up on more accessible cars like the current Corvette Z06 or upcoming Mustang Dark Horse. Now Dymag Wheels has announced a new partnership that will see carbon-hybrid wheels become available on future Hyundai N division products.

Official production specifications have not been shared, nor has Hyundai given a statement on which vehicles these potential carbon-hybrid wheels will be available on. However, a prototype wheel featuring a carbon-fiber-composite outer rim with a forged-metallic centerpiece was shown alongside the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed.

According to Dymag, weight savings over a traditional alloy wheel measure between 40 and 50 percent, while also improving stiffness and strength. As well as reducing unsprung mass, the lighter wheels should also send more feedback to the driver, improving steering feel.

When can we expect these wheels to begin appearing on Hyundai N cars? It's hard to say, but considering the prototype wheel was displayed alongside the Ioniq 5 N, we think it could one of the first models to be available with carbon-fiber wheels. The Ioniq 6 N that's sure to be in the pipeline is also a prime candidate. Of course, cheaper N division offerings like the current Elantra N and Kona N might be a bit too far down-market to warrant the costly option, but we'll have to wait and see.

Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.

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