Automotive firm Dymag works with Hyundai on carbon hybrid wheels for N Performance cars

Published by

Peter Davison

Dymag is designing new wheels for Hyundai's N range

Dymag, the Chippenham-based designer of lightweight wheels for the automotive industry, is working with Korean motor manufacturer Hyundai on the development of advanced new carbon hybrid wheel technology for its N Performance cars.

The first result of the collaboration between Dymag and composites material specialist Hankuk Carbon, the new wheel technology further cements Dymag’s position as a leading OEM partner for the global automotive industry, and marks the start of a relationship with Hyundai.

A prototype of a new jointly-developed N Performance carbon hybrid wheel was unveiled on Hyundai’s stand at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed, where the company also debuted its IONIQ 5 N hot crossover.

Bespoke designed and developed with Hyundai, full specifications of the new wheel will be revealed in the coming months. Dymag is also in advanced stages with multiple car makers, with further original equipment supply agreements set to be announced soon.

Blending a composite outer rim, made from carbon fibre, with a precision-machined forged metallic centrepiece, Dymag’s proprietary carbon hybrid wheel expertise realises the best of both materials, with weight savings over a traditional cast aluminium wheel of between 40 per cent and 50 per cent – vital in performance cars.

In addition to significantly reduced unsprung mass, the carbon hybrid wheel technology also reduces rolling inertia and offers improved stiffness and strength.

Tom de Lange, CEO of Dymag said: “We are delighted we are working with Hyundai on the development of advanced, lightweight carbon hybrid wheels for its N Performance products.

"The first result of the collaboration between Dymag and Hankuk Carbon, the new wheel technology further cements Dymag’s position as a leading OEM partner for the global automotive industry.

“This is the start of what we hope is a long and fruitful relationship with Hyundai, which will bring our game-changing technology to a wider audience of global automotive customers.

"Carbon hybrid wheels from Dymag bring many benefits for high-performance vehicles, with very low capital expenditure for car makers thanks to our patented technology and lean production methods. We look forward to announcing further OEM agreements very soon.”

Hankuk Carbon chairman Moonsoo Cho said: “We are very excited by this great starting point of our relationship with Dymag.

"Working with Hyundai makes us all very proud and will bring Dymag’s carbon hybrid wheel technology, which offers significant performance - and aesthetic - benefits to high-performance vehicles, to a wider audience.

"Our collaboration with Dymag will continuously grow to meet and exceed the requirements of our global automotive partners.”

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Leading advanced wheel design since 1974, Dymag has unrivalled heritage and was the first in the world to commercialise carbon hybrid automotive wheels in 2004.

Designed for high-performance vehicles, from sports cars to SUVs and pickups, the patented carbon hybrid wheel delivers multiple gains for OEMs, the aftermarket and customers alike. In addition to lower unsprung mass and inertia, gyroscopic force is also reduced, improving steering feel and handling.

Strength and durability are also improved over equivalent alloy wheels or full carbon wheel.

Peter Davison

Peter Davison is deputy editor of The Business Magazine. He has spent his life in journalism – doing work experience in newsrooms in and around Bristol while still at school, and landing his first job on a local newspaper aged 19. By 28 he was the youngest newspaper editor in the country. An early advocate of online news, he spent the first years of the 2000s telling his bosses that the internet posed both the biggest opportunity and greatest threat to the newspaper industry and the art of journalism. He was right on both counts. Since 2006 he has enjoyed a career as a freelance journalist. He lives in rural Wiltshire with one wife, two children, and three cats.