Watch Hyundai’s 2027 Tucson Hurled Around the Nürburgring Like a Huge Miata — Jalopnik

A Tucson pushed hard

A pre-sale 2027 Hyundai Tucson is being driven at speed around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The sight of an SUV being pushed in this way may look playful, but demanding test drives are part of a manufacturer’s work.

The car’s outing is not presented as an attempt to set a fastest production-car record. Instead, Hyundai engineers can use the drive to explore the vehicle’s limits and look for deficiencies.

A demanding test circuit

The Nürburgring is almost 13 miles long and has a wide range of track conditions. It includes elevation changes, flowing corners, high-speed sections, jumps, and surfaces that can be on- or off-camber.

Weather can vary across the circuit, with one end dry while rain falls elsewhere. The changing conditions give engineers opportunities to examine how the Tucson responds in different situations.

What engineers can assess

Testing there can help Hyundai evaluate the suspension, brakes, and how the tires’ grip relates to both. High speeds also provide a chance to assess cooling and brake performance, along with the engine and transmission.

The article says a vehicle that can complete a flying lap there should be capable of normal everyday service. That makes the demanding track useful beyond any pursuit of a speed record.

Hyundai’s nearby facility

Hyundai maintains a facility close to the Nürburgring. The company tunes its high-performance N models there, which receive stricter and more extensive testing than non-performance vehicles. The standard Tucson may not receive exactly the same treatment as an N model. Still, its track outing shows Hyundai testing the SUV at a circuit the company already uses for development.