Photo: Hyundai
Hyundai’s performance-oriented N and N Line vehicles are about to have company. The automaker says its U.S. lineup will offer seven of these dynamic models before the end of 2022 — including two reveals still to come.
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Once this ambitious rollout is complete, Hyundai customers will have a wide range of N and N Line options to consider, from sport sedans to SUVs.
“I’m proud of what our talented N brand engineers, designers, and product development teams have in store for enthusiast customers. Hyundai is committed to developing exciting, heart-charging N models in varied segments that reflect our passion to indulge enthusiasts,” said Olabisi Boyle, Hyundai Motor North America’s vice president of product planning and mobility strategy.
Hyundai’s N brand offers two tiers. N vehicles are specifically designed for high performance, with more powerful engines, specially tuned suspensions and chassis, and a variety of other track-friendly features.
N Line vehicles dial back the purist-friendly aggressiveness — while still offering sportier looks and more exciting performance than normal models.
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Current N and N Line models
So far, Hyundai’s U.S. lineup includes three N and N Line models. The Veloster N fills the automaker’s hot hatch slot, boasting a 275-horsepower turbo engine, a rev-matching manual transmission, and an electronically controlled suspension.
The Elantra N Line goes beyond the regular Elantra with 201 horsepower, a dual-clutch transmission, an independent multi-link rear suspension, and N-specific styling and badging both inside and outside. The Sonata N Line’s highlights include a 290-horsepower engine paired to a dual-clutch transmission, quad exhaust tips, and aerodynamic exterior upgrades.
Upcoming N and N Line models
Hyundai has unveiled two other N and N Line models that should arrive sometime in 2021. The Elantra N is in the midst of final tests at the famed Nurburgring complex in Germany. It’s likely to build on the Elantra N Line with a more muscular engine and other performance enhancements.
The Tucson N Line will add a performance option to the Hyundai SUV lineup. This model is already available in Europe and comes with more muscular engine options, suspension tweaks, and dark exterior accents. It’s not clear yet how closely the U.S. version will resemble its European sibling.
A graphic provided with a Hyundai news release shows these five confirmed N and N Line models next to a pair of other models hidden under red coverings. These N or N Line vehicles will be revealed in the coming months. The outlines of these models under their veils hint that both are likely to be SUVs. Hyundai is already testing a Kona N for global markets, and it’s a likely candidate for the U.S. as well.
For more on Hyundai and its high-performance N brand, check out our coverage here at The News Wheel.
A longtime editor/writer and recently transplanted Hoosier, Caleb Cook lives in Xenia, Ohio. His favorite activities are reading and listening to music, although he occasionally emerges from the heap of books and vinyl records in his basement to stand blinking in the sunlight. Once fully acclimated to the outside world again, he can be observed hanging out with his wife, attempting a new recipe in the kitchen, attending movies, walking the dog, or wandering into a local brewery to inquire about what’s on tap. See more articles by Caleb.