It is hoped it will help propel them to success at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

Hyundai, which produced its first bobsleigh a year ago, unveiled the upgraded version during a special ceremony held at its research center in Hwaseong in Gyeonggi Province.

The car manufacturer, the world's fifth largest automaker based on annual vehicle sales, has been working with the Korean national bobsleigh team throughout the manufacturing process since signing sponsorship deal in September 2014. 

In February, Won Yunjong and Seo Youngwoo became the first Asian sliders to win an International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Cup overall title with victory in the two-man season finale in Königssee.

The latest design of the bobsleigh features minimised air resistance, better cornering and improved resilience of the chassis, which will directly affect the local team's times, according to the Hyundai officials.

Its "victory blue-coloured" appearance is designed to be symbolic of South Korea's traditional "taegeuk" mark.

"The new bobsleigh is the world's best with various improved functions and made to best reflect athletes' driving inclinations," a Hyundai official told South Korean news agency Yonhap News.

It is the latest boost for South Korea's bobsleigh team.

In July a new indoor facility was opened to help them prepare for the Olympics.

The ice start training venue is part of the Alpensia Sliding Centre, which will host the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events at Pyeongchang 2018.

The entire sliding facility is expected to be completed by December 2017 but the athletes can now practice on their start techniques before riding their sleds on the track.