Hyundai Reveals Tucson N Line Teasers, Elantra N Up Next

Hyundai is putting the sport back in sport utility vehicle as it teases the Tucson N Line. It’s the first of the Korean automaker’s crossovers to get the N Line treatment. The Elantra N and Elantra N Line come next.

The Hyundai N and N Line continue to grow. Today in West Hollywood, California, the Korean automaker revealed teaser images of the Tucson N Line model. The teasers come on the same day the 2022 Hyundai Tucson was unveiled for the U.S. market.

The N and N Line are important to Hyundai as it seeks to cement a move beyond utilitarian transportation to something rivaling that offered by its Japanese and German competition. Hyundai has tried for years to gain footing in the performance niche but has largely been unsuccessful.

The Veloster has always been well received but its numbers and prestige never reached that of the Volkswagen Golf R and the siblings the Subaru BRZ and the Toyota 86. (We’re thinking affordable performance, which is why the Toyota Supra is not on the list.)

Hyundai said its plan includes three image-leading purist N models such as Veloster N and Elantra N, as well as N Line models, including Sonata N Line, Elantra N Line and Tucson N Line. The N brand strategy offers a steady cadence of sensational new N performance models to satisfy enthusiasts of all kinds. Hyundai’s plans to expand its N brand portfolio to seven models in various segments through the 2022 calendar year.

Tucson N Line will offer aggressive and distinctive exterior design features and differentiating interior details. Unique equipment and color selections are also planned for production models. Tucson N Line will be available in spring 2021.

“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. We’re confident that enthusiasts will relish the agility and performance of our new N Line models”, said Olabisi Boyle, vice president, product planning and mobility strategy, Hyundai Motor North America.

The N Line, as Hyundai suggests, won’t be as heavily performance oriented. It’s probably going to be more like Toyota’s TRD lineup that offers aggressive styling cues and some performance modifications without the additional expense of standalone engines and suspension hardware modifications.

It will be interesting to see what Hyundai offers for its versions of the Elantra N and the Elantra N Line. Pure window dressing on the latter probably won’t be well received but it’s easy to envision an Elantra N becoming a competitor to the Honda Civic Si.