Hyundai N

Hyundai Australia has released more specific details of when its upcoming high-performance N models – namely the Hyundai i20 N, i30 N facelift, Kona N and i30 Sedan N – will arrive in Australian showrooms. The second quarter of this year (spanning April to June, inclusive) will see the local debuts of the all-new i20 N and facelifted i30 N hot hatches, Hyundai's rivals to the Ford Fiesta ST and Volkswagen Golf GTI respectively.

The next-generation Hyundai i30 N may see the introduction of a new turbocharged 2.3-litre engine. According to Korean newspaper Kyunghyang Shinmun, Hyundai is developing the new 2.3-litre turbo powertrain with a 7000rpm redline for its future performance 'N' models. This isn't the first time rumours of the engine have surfaced. Back in April 2020, a mid-engined Veloster-based track car was caught on a tow truck in Korea, with the prototype showing 'MR23T' graphics.

The 2021 Hyundai i20 N has been put through its paces on track, as captured in a new video put out by the Korean car company. Designed to fight against the Volkswagen Polo GTI and Ford Fiesta ST, the i20 N comes with a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder producing 150kW and 275Nm. Drive is through the front wheels via a six-speed manual and limited-slip differential. Earlier this month, CarAdvice was invited to test a prototype of the i20 N on track.

Hyundai Motorsport has taken the covers off its latest TCR race car, adding the Elantra N TCR to its stable of customer cars that also includes the i30 N TCR and Veloster N TCR. The addition of the Elantra N TCR is designed to ensure maximum relevance in global markets, the sedan set to race in markets where the Elantra is sold.

It's already the second best-selling model in its segment, but the 2021 Hyundai Kona looks set to debut an important facelift that could improve its standing with buyers. The new look comes as no surprise, however, with recent spy footage of the anticipated Kona N hero offering a clear look at what we can expect. From these images, we can see the entire front end of the 2021 Hyundai Kona will be touched by the styling wand.