Update, April 12: A representative from Hyundai has confirmed to The Drive that Tyrone Johnson has officially joined the automaker. Contrary to earlier reports, this is not a new announcement, as Johnson was hired last August. Importantly, he will not directly succeed Albert Biermann as Head of Vehicle Integration in Europe. Instead, Johnson will lead a team focused on vehicle testing and development, primarily ensuring that Hyundai products align with the preferences of European consumers, rather than solely working on performance models. Original article below.
Tyrone Johnson, who previously held the position of vehicle engineering manager for Ford Performance, is reportedly now part of Hyundai-Kia. Johnson was instrumental in developing the popular Ford Focus RS, and it appears that Hyundai may aim to leverage his expertise for its own high-performance vehicle.
As reported by Autocar, Johnson has taken on the role of Head of Vehicle Integration, stepping in for Albert Biermann, who has moved into a senior position in Hyundai’s research and development department.
Biermann, who previously led BMW’s M division, has played a key role in enhancing Hyundai’s reputation among car enthusiasts. He was pivotal in launching Hyundai’s “N” performance sub-brand, which includes the well-received Veloster N and i30 N, along with the anticipated 340-horsepower Tucson N. His influence also extended to the Kia Stinger GT and the more accessible model from Hyundai’s luxury brand Genesis, the G70.
As Biermann’s successor, Johnson faces significant expectations, but his background at Ford Performance suggests he is well-equipped for the task. It remains to be seen when and where his impact will first be noticeable, but it’s likely that he will contribute to Hyundai’s halo car project, which was confirmed back in 2018 by the company’s Executive Vice President of High Performance Vehicles, Thomas Schemera. Schemera has described the upcoming model as an “exotic” vehicle aimed at the super sports segment, indicating it will be a supercar. He referenced a mid-engine concept car called the RM16 N as an illustrative example of Hyundai’s potential, so it seems plausible that whatever is being developed will be a two-seater supercar.
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