They may not race Formula One cars at the Nürburgring Nordschleife anymore, but the legendary track is still a hugely important hotbed for vehicular testing and the establishment of bragging rights. Now, Hyundai seeks to get in on the action as well.

According to Australia's The Motor Report, Hyundai recently released images of their planned advanced test center at the 'Ring. Establishing the center means the Koreans will join the ranks of BMW, Aston Martin and Opel, who also have test facilities nearby. Their facility will cost about $8.3 million to build, and will open in August.

Hyundai's goal, according to the news site, is to sharpen the handling and ride quality of their cars, particularly for European customers.

If you ask me, this is a great step in the right direction for the company. Hyundai's meteoric rise over the last 15 years or so has been remarkable to watch. They've gone from tiny, crappy penalty boxes to cars that are as good as, or better than, many of their competitors.

But even with offerings like the Genesis Coupe and Veloster Turbo, they still lag behind the competition in certain performance aspects like steering feel. Their sporty cars are really great, but they're just not there yet, even if they are considerably less expensive then their rivals.

Hopefully, having easier access to the Green Hell than they already do with their existing Rüsselsheim R&D center will help to improve things. I only see Hyundai getting better, and now I can't wait to see more of their cars lapping the 'Ring.

But even with offerings like the Genesis Coupe and Veloster Turbo, they still lag behind the competition in certain performance aspects like steering feel. Their sporty cars are really great, but they're just not there yet, even if they are considerably less expensive then their rivals.