The Nthusiasm in All of Us

31 MAR 2021
By John Barker

For many of us, it’s been a difficult year, but there is light breaking through the clouds and the prospect of normality returning, and with it the freedoms we took for granted. Those of us with a passion for cars can start planning road trips to visit family, friends, or favorite places. Right now though, we’d settle for just grabbing the keys and heading out on our favorite roads for the sheer joy of driving, to be back in our happy place, with the car alive to our touch and the road unfurling before us.

31 MAR 2021
By John Barker

We’re glad to be back after a winter break and delighted to be welcoming The Class of 2021 Nfluencers into the fold. For many of us, cars and driving are a passion that started early and runs deep and is continually evolving. It’s often a journey that starts in childhood, absorbing anything and everything about cars: spotting interesting cars on the street, collecting toys, poring over books and magazines, getting lost in specifications, cleaning cars to get closer to them, pestering family and friends for rides…

Then, finally, you get to drive. In that moment, your obsession with cars takes on a whole new, more thrilling dimension. For a brief moment, the first car you drive is the best car you’ve ever driven, and you’ve tasted a thrill that never fades.

I passed my test more than 40 years ago, and I’ve been fortunate to drive just about everything, including some of the greatest supercars. Yet I still get a buzz out of driving a hire car from the airport because it’s the driving that’s the buzz; getting to know the car, feeling how it responds. There’s still something magical about that, something endlessly rewarding.

Sometimes a smooth flow suits your mood, but at other times we crave something more challenging, engaging, and energetic. We all have a go-to loop; favorite roads that test you and your car, and it’s always a good feeling to find them free of traffic so that you can string those inviting sequences of corners together at your pace.

You never forget your first car, of course. Its registration number probably comes to mind more easily than your home address. It’s a fantastic car… for a while. It teaches you lots about driving, maybe crashing too, but as soon as you can afford to upgrade, you do. Continually.

Until you find a car that ticks all your boxes. A car that you come to realize has been designed and developed by people who love driving as much as you do. A car that feels great right away but has a depth of ability that keeps on delivering, an ability engineered-in to deliver something special: engines with performance and character, steering that’s accurate and full of feel, handling that is agile and secure, a ride that is taut yet supple… and all of this expertly blended into a cohesive, compelling performance car.

Such cars are rare, but you can find them in every segment of the market, from supermini to supercar, and they inspire enthusiasm and loyalty. It’s no surprise that Hyundai N Brand cars are among them, that they attract and excite loyal and enthusiastic owners. It’s hard to overestimate the value of such fans to a brand; they are unofficial ambassadors, independent advocates. Other car fans recognize their genuine enthusiasm and honesty, which makes their message more credible and resonant.

Nfluencers are deep-rooted enthusiasts whose opinions and expertise were already sought out by people in their own circles and are now appreciated and sought out more widely via social media. They are discerning drivers with a passion that shines through, and it’s clear that they ‘get’ N Brand cars and can explain what makes them special. They’re happy to share their experiences and passion. Most importantly, they uphold the spirit of N. That’s what makes them Nfluencers.