Taean, South Korea - Intended for the Group’s use across the Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands, the “HMG Driving Experience Center” is designed to offer an immersive brand experience to owners, prospects and fans of the three brands.
The heart of the HMG Driving Experience Center is housed in a two-storey building within the confines of the sprawling, 1,260,000 sq. m. Hankook Tire Technoring Proving Grounds in Taean on the western coast of the country.
See also: 650hp Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is Naughty, Nice and Nom-nom-nom-nom-nom!
The 10,223 sq. m. built-up, two-storey building for the customers includes reception and lounge areas, briefing rooms, car display spaces, racing sim rigs, cafe, as well as a merchandise shop.
Eight different courses give the owners and prospects of the Group’s brands a ‘safe space’ beyond public roads in which to put the chosen cars through their dynamic (and even off-road as we experienced as passengers in the Palisade) paces.
See also: Volvo EX30 Single Motor Extended Range Drive Review : Minimalist Cheek
Some of the stations we enjoyed in the Avante N and Ioniq 5 N included a 3.4km dry-handling race circuit with 16 corners, gymkhana, high-speed braking, acceleration, drifting, slalom and even a 4.6km high-speed banked oval for sustained high-speed runs.
It’s not just developing hard driving skills, because the HMG Driving Experience Center also has thoughtfully curated lifestyle driving experiences, which include a “Camping Experience” and a “Junior Driving Experience”.
An official from Hyundai Motor Group said, “The number of customers visiting the HMG Driving Experience Center is increasing every year. (Since its official opening in September 2022, the HMG Driving Experience Center has been visited by more than 20,000 people by 2023)”
He added, “For the 2024 season, we have prepared a program where people can visit with their families and have fun beyond the space where they can experience vehicles.
“We will take the lead in leading and establishing domestic automobile culture through newer and more diverse programs,” he said.
