Hyundai's niche sports sedan won't get faster, track-ready model

There has been talk of a hot Hyundai Sonata N in the works, but the company’s executive technical advisor has poured cold water on these reports.

“Sonata N Line is no race track [car],” Albert Biermann told Australian media at the launch of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.

When asked whether we could see a Sonata N, Mr Biermann said, “Not on that platform.”

The current Sonata debuted Hyundai’s so-called third-generation platform, which also underpins models like the Tucson and Santa Fe.

It tops out in N Line guise which, while packing a powerful turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, hasn’t been designed as a full-fat N car.

Hyundai says all N cars must be ‘corner rascals’ and be ‘everyday sports cars’, but they must also have track capability.

While its 213kW/422Nm engine is set to be used in the i30 Sedan N, the Sonata N Line evidently doesn’t meet the criteria to be an N car.

Hyundai reserves the N Line nameplate for vehicles like this that may offer extra power or firmer suspension tunes, as well as various cosmetic upgrades, but aren’t considered track-ready.

The Sonata N Line is the only variant of Hyundai’s long-running mid-sized nameplate to be offered here, even though less powerful naturally aspirated 2.5-litre, hybrid 2.0-litre and turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder powertrains are offered overseas.

Hyundai Australia therefore offers just one Sonata with the lot – the most powerful engine, plus the highest level of specification. The only option is the colour.

This strategy hasn’t changed with the recently introduced facelifted model.

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