Turbocharged Hyundai Sonata N Line here soon

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata N Line has emerged overseas and is now set to crown the all-new mid-size sedan range when it launches in Australia in late November.

Hyundai Australia has received homologation approval from federal authorities to offer the eighth-generation Sonata with a new ‘Theta III’ 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine.

And while the documents seen by carsales show it is a normally aspirated unit developing 132kW, the stage appears set for a circa-216kW turbocharged variant to muscle in as the stand-alone Aussie launch model, effectively making it Hyundai’s answer to the Kia Stinger sports sedan.

Official images released overnight show the sporting potential of the all-new Hyundai Sonata N Line, but powertrain details were not provided and are not expected until its official launch on October 21.

That said, when American journalists drove early prototype versions of the Sonata N Line late last year, they reported that Hyundai’s US division had confirmed the sports sedan will use a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol engine developing 290hp (216kW) of power and 310lb-ft (420Nm) of torque.

It will combine with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.

This is all but confirmed as the combination that Hyundai Australia will take into showrooms at launch in November, leaving the 2.5 atmo (with six-speed DCT) it has already homologated as an option for boosting the line-up down the track.

The Korean car-maker’s local subsidiary is also studying a hybrid version of new Hyundai Sonata to join the range, but at launch the plan is simply to come out with all guns blazing with the N Line.

As with all local models, the Aussie-spec N Line will have its suspension tuned specifically for our unique road conditions and we can see that Hyundai has already gained approval for both 17-inch and 18-inch wheels on the lower-output version.

Expect 18s to be fitted standard on the N Line, with 19-inch rims also available – as per the striking multi-spoke alloys and Pirelli P Zero rubber shown in the pics released this week.

The wheels are a defining marker of the first Sonata N Line, which takes the already sleek looks of the new-generation Hyundai Sonata and amps it up with what are now deemed signature N Line design elements – a cascading grille, aggressive front fascia, triple air intakes and N Line badging.

This sporting treatment flows around to the rear via side skirts to a prominent black lower bumper, dual twin exhaust outlets and an N Line rear diffuser.

The cabin highlights include sports seats, dark chrome trim and N Line red stitching on the steering wheel.

Hyundai’s global design chief SangYup Lee said the Sonata N Line will draw more customers to both Sonata and the brand’s increasingly popular N Line “sub-brand”, which will also extend soon to the new Hyundai i30 sedan and Hyundai Kona small SUV.

“Sonata N Line will appeal to customers who desire sporty styling in a sedan package,” Lee said.