255kW Hyundai Tucson N in the works

Hyundai is secretly developing a Hyundai Tucson N that will go head-to-head with the high-performance SUVs like the Audi SQ5, it has been revealed.

According to Brit mag,

Thanks to the extra power, a healthy bump in torque and standard all-wheel drive, the Hyundai Tucson N should comfortably record a 0-100km/h sprint of less than 6.0 seconds. That compares with a 6.1 second time for the benchmark i30 N, despite the SUV weighing about 200kg more.

Set to become a new performance flagship for the Hyundai N division, the Tucson N will also come with a completely retuned chassis, stiffer springs, more reactive dampers and thicker anti-roll bars.

Speaking to the Brit mag, insiders said development mules have already been built and are currently testing using a gearbox that's based on the i30 N's - although it's not clear if they're talking about the six-speed manual or the forthcoming dual-clutch automatic that will be introduced later to the i30 N in 2019.

As well as the Tucson N SUV, the sources also revealed another pure-electric performance car based on an all-new platform is being considered by senior Hyundai execs.

It's not known when exactly the cut-price Korean Audi SQ5-rival will arrive but the car-maker has already announced that it will launch an N version based on the i20 in earlier 2020.

That car is expected to come with front-wheel drive, an electric-controlled front limited-slip differential and about 187kW.

When it arrives, the small Hyundai i20 N will take the battle to the Ford Fiesta ST and the Volkswagen Polo GTI.