Hyundai Teases Elantra N Model

The steady drumbeat of N models continues at Hyundai. The Korean automaker released photos and video today showing the 2021 Elantra N Model. Will it sell?

Hyundai Motor Company today revealed its new Elantra N model through a collection of photos and video. As a high-performance model of the seventh-generation compact sedan, Elantra N will complete the Elantra lineup, offering high-performance N-specific features.

Warning: extreme hype ahead. “Elantra N is an outstanding addition to the N brand lineup in that it offers pulse-pounding performance in a practical four-door package,” said Thomas Schemera, executive vice president and head of product division at Hyundai Motor Group. “Elantra N is undergoing final development now, including validation at Nürburgring, so we can deliver a car that enthusiasts will love in 2021. Once launched, it will be the flag-bearer of the Elantra lineup."

No details are available yet on what the N model will have under the hood or what other specific performance enhancements it will have. You can look to the 2021 Hyundai Elantra N line for some suggestions. Think of the N line as kind of a performance purgatory. It’s for those buyers not quite ready to spend the extra money for a car they rarely will be able to push to its limits absent a track day.

Plus, buyers may not like the taste of higher insurance premiums. After all, Hyundai isn’t a brand routinely known for inspiring increased insurance rates due to performance.

We can take some clues from the Veloster N model. It features an available N eight-speed wet dual-clutch transmission; steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters; thermal endurance capabilities meet sustained high-performance levels; and N Track sense shift with launch control. It also features new standard N Light Sport Seats with illuminated N logo, performance side bolsters and 4.4 lb. weight reduction.

The Elantra N line includes a turbocharged engine and independent rear suspension. It also features N Line 18-inch wheels and Hankook Ventus S1 RX 235/40R18 all-season tires (7-speed DCT) or Goodyear Eagle F1 235/40R18 summer tires (6-speed MT). Also included are a chrome twin exhaust, lip spoiler and N Line rear fascia with diffuser

Last week, Hyundai teased the Tucson N model. Expect it to be a popular seller by virtue of being a Tucson. Hyundai said its plan includes three image-leading purist N models such as the Veloster N and Elantra N, as well as N Line models, including Sonata N Line, Elantra N Line and Tucson N Line.

Yet, it’s hard to see how much interest there is going to be in a Hyundai Elantra N model. Expect it to sell in small numbers. There’s just so much competition out there, including offerings from Volkswagen, Toyota and Subaru. Fingers crossed the Elantra offers appealing performance without too big of a bite in the wallet.

Keith Griffin covers Hyundai and Kia at Torque News. He has been writing continuously about cars since 2002. Keith used to be a researcher/writer for US News & World Report, as well as numerous car sites, including Carfax and Car Gurus, and a contributor to The Boston Globe. Most recently, Keith was the managing editor for American Business Media. Follow Keith at @indepthauto on Twitter, on @LinkedIn and on his Indepth Auto Facebook page.