Is Hyundai making a Sonata N high-performance sedan?

Photography salvage surfaced online of what looks as if it’s on the final a high efficiency N-variant of the Hyundai Sonata midsize sedan.

The photos posted by a Korean blogger ‘Zamini’ and then picked up by the Korean Automobile Blog showcase what appears to be like to be a closely camouflaged Hyundai Sonata in a parking lot, then again wanting closely finds some manufacture aspects usually associated with Hyundai’s high efficiency N-automobiles.

Those repeat-sage visible signals embody a red strip along the aspect skirts, and red brake calipers.

What carry out the photography of the ‘Sonata N’ repeat us?

It’s no longer determined whether the auto may possibly well perchance very wisely be an official prototype being tested, or potentially one thing as easy as a beforehand unseen accessory pack as in opposition to a fully-fledged N-mannequin, then again the photography are curious on the different hand.

Interestingly, while there are some determined ‘N’ visible cues within the photography, the wheels appear to be akin to the current Sonata N-Line and the tailpipes stare too diminutive for a fully-fledged N.

Hyundai Australia – who declined to touch upon the speculation – salvage only staunch kind debuted a substantial mid-existence facelift of the Sonata, which has included a metamorphosis into of the exterior styling and significant interior updates, then again there hasn’t been any official word around a lurking doable N variant.

If truth be told, the fresh Sonata lineup in Australia is restricted to 1 grade only – the Sonata N-Line, which we salvage staunch kind reviewed.

Now no longer to be at a loss for words with the efficiency-focused ‘N’ sub-imprint, the ‘N-Line’ sub-imprint injects some sporty flavour and styling into grades that wear the badge, however with out the total fruit of a fully kitted and engineered, note-focused ‘N’ mannequin.

What would a ‘Sonata N’ stare like?

Hyundai already sells a high efficiency petrol sedan in Australia, the i30 Sedan N. So how would a doable Sonata N slot within the lineup?

Currently, the i30 Sedan N retails for $50,200 sooner than on avenue costs and provides a a small smaller, efficiency focused different to the elevated Sonata N-Line which asks for $55,200 sooner than on roads.

Both automobiles are entrance-wheel-power – even supposing the Sonata is on hand with all-wheel-power out of the country – and they every share the same eight-chase, moist dual-take dangle of automatic transmission as the imprint’s i30 N hot hatch, even supposing every i30’s are also on hand with a handbook.

Whereas the i30 Sedan N is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine making for 206kW or power and 392Nm of torque, the Sonata N-Line is powered by a 2.5-litre turbo engine handing over 213kW of power and 422Nm of torque.

On the different hand, the i30 Sedan N is offered with a restricted-go differential (LSD) and grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, making it the determined efficiency preference, as when put next to the Sonata which lacks an LSD on the entrance axle and runs with an begin diff. The Sonata N-Line also lacks adaptive dampers which come long-established on the much less pricey i30 Sedan N.

If an N version of the Sonata ever did eventuate, one would demand a elevated tune to its engine and potentially all-wheel-power in say to differentiate itself from the i30 Sedan N. This sort of changes would no doubt push the Sonata nameplate wisely into $60K-plus territory for the main time.

This sort of mannequin would compete for a crop of a anxious pie within the low-volume efficiency sedan market which in fresh cases has also considered the loss of life of sister imprint’s Kia Stinger colossal efficiency sedan.

As well to this, Hyundai would like to navigate positioning and differentiation from its sister top class sign Genesis and its efficiency-luxury focused G70 midsize sedan which is priced between $63,000 and $84,324 reckoning on variant.

What does the lengthy chase defend for Hyundai N?

The Hyundai N division – which injected a beforehand unseen wearing credibility to the imprint’s lineup when it launched in 2018 – is now evolving within the face of an electric future, which raises further attention-grabbing questions for what operate a petroleum-powered Sonata N may possibly well perchance play if it ever did eventuate.

Currently, the Korean automaker provides three N Efficiency automobiles in its lineup – the i20 N diminutive hatchback, i30 N hatchback, and i30 Sedan N. On the different hand, Hyundai has been begin about the upcoming loss of life of the i20 N and i30 N turbo-petrol hatchbacks on the discontinuance of their fresh existence cycles which implies that of refined European emissions regulations, with the Kona N SUV also having no longer too lengthy within the past been discontinued.

Hyundai is now steering the N imprint’s level of curiosity onto electric efficiency automobiles just like the Ioniq 5 N which is due for arrival in Australia in Q1 of subsequent yr as the corporate’s first industrially produced efficiency focused EV.

As well to this, the imprint has also talked about that it’s plotting an electric future for the i20 N and i30N hatchbacks to assist the cheap discontinuance of the efficiency market alive, and it has beforehand published a prototype previewing the Ioniq 6 N high efficiency electric sedan besides to the  N Imaginative and prescient ‘74 hybrid electric-hydrogen supercar belief.

With this electric shift, the no longer too lengthy within the past facelifted i30 Sedan N – is named the Elantra N within the US and since the Avante N in South Korea – will at final be the simplest petrol-powered N-mannequin to continue to exist the upcoming petrol efficiency cull and survive into one other technology,

That survival is largely because no longer just like the aforementioned hatchbacks, the diminutive sedan – which isn’t on hand in Europe – makes a speciality of the US and South Korean markets where it achieves stable gross sales, and where emissions regulations aren’t as strict.