Hyundai’s expanded range of N performance cars is taking shape.
The company’s US operations have given us our first official look at the upcoming i30 Sedan N and Tucson N-Line, which will be two of the eight N and N-Line models that’ll be launched in Australia by the end of 2021.
Hyundai has released shadowy teasers of the sporty SUV, while also revealing the i30 Sedan N – or Elantra N, as it’ll be known there – in light camouflage.
The i30 Sedan N’s styling builds on that of the previously revealed N-Line, with a new rear spoiler, larger dual exhaust outlets (now with one on each side), and unique wheels. The N-Line already features a more aggressive front and rear bumper than the regular i30 Sedan.
Under the bonnet, the N will represent a big step up from the N-Line. The 2021 i30 N hatchback’s turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder will produce 206kW of power and 392Nm of torque in N Performance guise, where it’ll also have the option of an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission in addition to the standard six-speed manual.
The regular N hatchback available in other markets will produce 184kW of power and 353Nm of torque and be manual-only.
The Tucson N-Line mightn’t be a full-fledged N model like the i30 but it’ll vault to the top of the class in terms of power.
We expect it to use the same turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine as the Sonata N-Line, which produces 213kW of power and 422Nm of torque.
That’s substantially more power than the current performance leaders in the mid-sized segment, the Mazda CX-5 and Ford Escape, which produce 170kW and 183kW respectively.
The Mazda matches the Hyundai engine in torque, as will the upcoming Tiguan R that Volkswagen wants to launch here in 2022; the VW has the edge in power with 235kW.
Expect the Tucson N-Line to also use the same eight-speed dual-clutch automatic as the Sonata N-Line and i30 N, though unlike those models it’ll almost certainly be all-wheel drive.
Exterior tweaks include larger, snowflake-style alloy wheels, plus a racier rear diffuser and a tweaked front bumper.
Hyundai Motor America also shared a graphic showing seven N and N Line models it’ll launch through 2022, with two models concealed.
Likewise, Hyundai Australia has confirmed it’ll release eight N and N Line models by the end of 2021: the i20 N, updated i30 N hatch, i30 Sedan N in the N column plus N Line versions of the i30 Sedan, Kona, Sonata and Tucson.
We expect the concealed vehicles on the graphic to be two Kona-based models, the Kona N and Kona N Line.
The Kona N Line has already been revealed, though the Kona N has only been snapped in spy photographs so far.
While the hot Kona N is expected to use the same powertrain as the i30 N, albeit with all-wheel drive, the warm Kona N Line uses a more powerful version of the turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic that’s already optional across the Kona range.
In the N Line, power is bumped up from 130kW to 145kW.
As with other N Line models, the Kona N Line also features a more aggressive front bumper plus other cosmetic tweaks. In the Kona’s case, the plastic cladding of the regular model is replaced with body-colour trim.
