Hyundai Is Bringing Carbon Fiber Wheels to Its N Cars

Hyundai's N line may seem like an odd fit for such advanced wheels, but weight savings are crucial on a performance EV like the Ioniq 5 N.

Dymag Wheels has announced a partnership with Hyundai to produce carbon hybrid wheels for their line of N performance cars. The wheels would have a carbon fiber outer rim and a metallic centerpiece, potentially cutting weight by 50 percent over cast aluminum wheels.

Although final production plans for a carbon-wheeled Hyundai have not been shared, a prototype wheel was displayed alongside the Ioniq 5 N at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed. The placement seems to indicate that the offering of carbon wheels on Hyundais is imminent.

Carbon wheels are a rare option typically reserved only for performance cars, but they can currently be specced on both the upcoming Mustang Dark Horse and C8-generation Corvette Z06. In both of those cases, the wheels are an expensive option for a sports car already geared primarily toward serious track use. Hyundai's choice to find a partner that can produce a similar hybrid carbon wheel fits with a long-term commitment to building their N brand into a serious player in the performance car world, even if it marks a fairly serious deviation from a long history of selling affordable cars.

The brand's near-future plans include a few cars that could benefit from the option. The Ioniq 5 N was revealed just a few weeks ago, but it is already a favorite here at Road & Track and its performance bona fides make it a natural fit for an option. An expected Ioniq 6 N that looks something like the RN22e concept could also receive the weight-saving wheels. Hyundai currently sells two N cars powered by internal combustion, the Elantra N and the Kona N, but their relatively low price point and established position on the market make costly carbon wheels an unlikely option in the near future.

Ferrari Hybrids Were for 43 Percent of Sales in Q2

Watch How Rays Wheels Forge the Iconic TE37s

The Original Porsche 911 S/T Is a Cult Classic

Someone Please Save This Aston Martin-Bodied Miata

Ford GT Gets Its First Wash After Five Years

NY Bill Aims to Place Governors in Ticketed Cars

Subaru Shows Off Factory WRX Rally Car for U.S.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Is Not a Luxury Truck

Toyota Is Really Good at Listening to Enthusiasts

How the New Land Cruiser Stacks Up to Its Rivals

U.S.-Bound 2024 Land Cruiser Officially Arrives

The 2024 Porsche 911 S/T Is the Lightest, Priciest