The facility, which represents a €5.5m investment, will be used to improve the quality and driving performance of Hyundai’s European-designed vehicles.

Tests will be carried out by engineers at the company’s existing R&D centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, which in 2012 was responsible for designing, engineering and testing almost 95% of the 444,000 Hyundai cars sold in Europe.

The announcement follows Hyundai’s re-entry into the WRC series, with Hyundai explaining that the test centre’s location was chosen for its direct access to the famous race track, dubbed “The Green Hell” due to its challenging nature.

Allan Rushforth, senior vice president and COO of Hyundai Motor Europe, said: ‘The new Hyundai test centre at Nürburgring is an expression of our intention to focus on improving the customer experience of our vehicles, such as ride and handling – an important consideration for European drivers. The new centre represents a significant investment, and one we expect will significantly contribute to enhancing the perception of the Hyundai brand and our key competitive competence in Europe.’