Hyundai has lifted the
veils off the sporty Elantra N Line model. Powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged
four-cylinder gasoline engine making 201 HP and 265 Nm of torque,
the Elantra N Line is the range-topping model of the latest-generation Elantra
sedan. It won’t hold on to that position for long, though, as Hyundai also has
a full-blown Elantra N performance model in the works. Spotted for the first
time in public in Germany near Hyundai’s Nürburgring test center, the Elantra N
prototypes featured a full camouflage wrap that could not hide typical Hyundai
N elements.
Those include the fixed rear spoiler,
massive round exhausts, big wheels, and beefier brakes featuring red brake calipers.
Expect the bumpers to look similar to the ones of the Elantra N Line, albeit
with an extra edge of aggressiveness. It goes without saying that the Elantra N
will also feature an upgraded sports suspension with a lower ride height and
sportier setup. The interior should borrow a lot from the Elantra N Line and
feature upgrades such as full-blown bucket seats and plenty of Alcantara
surfaces.
While nothing is confirmed yet, the most
obvious powertrain choice for the Elantra N would be the 2.0-liter GDi turbo
petrol engine that powers the current i30 N performance hatch and fastback
models. The power plant delivers a healthy 271 hp and
353 Nm of torque.
In the i30 N models, it is offered in
combination with either a six-speed manual with rev-matching function or an
eight-speed dual-clutch automatic with an electronic limited-slip differential.
As with said models, power will go exclusively to the front wheels. The Elantra
N is expected to debut after the Kona N, which means we won’t see it in
dealerships earlier than 2021.
