Hyundai Tucson N Line and i30 Sedan N teased

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson N Line and i30 Sedan N have been revealed for the first time in official teaser images this morning – and they’ll be two of eight new N or N Line models to come from Hyundai Australia in 2021.

Based on the new-generation Hyundai Tucson due on sale in Australia in the first half of next year, the Korean brand’s latest N Line premium variant will face-off with flagship versions of the most popular mid-size SUVs.

These include the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5, which outsell the existing Tucson, as well as the Nissan X-TRAIL, Subaru Forester, Kia Sportage, Honda CR-V and Volkswagen Tiguan, plus the new Ford Escape.

Hyundai Australia has confirmed the Tucson N Line will become available Down Under in the first half of 2021, bringing “distinctive exterior design features and differentiating interior details” plus unique equipment and colour selections.

As you can see here, the N Line adds more aggressive styling cues to the already imposing front-end design of the new Tucson, along with a bolder rear-end treatment and larger alloy wheels.

Like the new turbocharged Hyundai Sonata N Line, which was recently revealed and confirmed as the only version of the redesigned mid-size sedan to be offered locally, the Tucson N Line will offer more power than mainstream variants of the new SUV.

Indeed, it could employ the same 213kW/422Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine as the Sonata N Line, which would outpace the most powerful vehicles currently available in this class (the 170kW CX-5 and the 183kW Escape), although the 235kW VW Tiguan R is expected to trump them all in 2022.

Also like the Sonata N Line, the Tucson N Line should come standard with Hyundai’s new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (as seen in the upgraded 2021 i30 N sedan and hatch), but in this case matched with all-wheel drive.

Meantime, the 2022 Hyundai i30 Sedan N was revealed overnight in the US, where it’s known as the Elantra N.

Cosmetic upgrades over the new i30 sedan (including an N Line version) launched here last month include more aggressive front and rear bumpers and a larger rear spoiler, while an extra exhaust outlet hints at its enhanced powertrain.

In Australia, the Hyundai i30 Sedan N will share its 206kW/392Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with the upgraded 2021 i30 N hatch, and will also bring the option of an 8DCT auto alongside the standard six-speed manual.

Hyundai Australia has previously promised to release eight new or upgraded N and N Line models by the end of 2021.

These include three full-blown N models in the all-new i20 N, all-new i30 Sedan N and the facelifted i30 N hatch.

New Hyundai N Line models will include the i30 Sedan N Line, Kona N Line, Sonata N Line and Tucson N Line, with the eighth vehicle likely to be the Kona N – Hyundai’s first full-house N SUV.

The Kona N Line will bring a 145kW 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine and seven-speed DCT, while the yet-to-be-revealed Kona N should run the same 2.0-litre turbo four as the i30 N, with AWD.

Separately today, Hyundai USA promised a “sustained and commanding product blitz” of 12 new or upgraded SUVs for release in North America during 2021.

These include the new Tucson, facelifted Santa Fe and Kona, the Santa Cruz crossover ute (not confirmed for Oz) and a new “dedicated-platform, electrified IONIQ SUV”.