Next-Gen Hyundai Elantra N Will Still Have an ICE, Hyundai Exec Confirms

The ever-tightening emission regulations has prompted many manufacturers to jump ship into electrification, be it partially or fully. In the days where ultra-fast hypercars are forced to be partially electrified to cope with said regulations, the emergence of fuel-powered performance cars such as the Hyundai N models calls for a celebration.

Korean automotive giant Hyundai is poised to continue its N performance models, as the next-gen Elantra N will still come with an internal combustion mill. Speaking to CarExpert during the N Fest in Australia, Hyundai’s executive technical advisor Albert Biermann confirms that the Elantra N and several other N models will survive the electrification ordeal for its next-gen reincarnations.

The exec said “the i30 N is quite safe, at least the sedan version, so we will see the next-generation car with a new petrol engine, as it’s already in our long-range plans." For context, the i30 N Sedan is the other name for the Elantra N, used in some international markets. In Hyundai’s homeland, the Elantra N is known as the Avante N.

Such statement also revealed that the Elantra N’s hot-hatch sibling, the i30 N hatchback, is less likely to live to see a next-gen iteration, in spite of being developed mainly to cater to European standards and market.

Biermann further added that the impending Euro 7 emission regulation will see some N-badged cars with ICE to be discontinued in some markets. "Other markets like Europe are dreaming and there's a good chance there will be no further combustion engine N cars in some markets with Euro 7 regulations looming," said the exec.

Fortunately, the future looks a tad bit bright for the i20 N, as it boasts a smaller 1.6-litre engine, while its bigger siblings all sport the N’s proprietary 2.0-litre powertrain. Taking its place is likely the 2.5-litre turbocharged ICE derived from the Hyundai Sonata N Line.

"So the i20 N engine, the 1.6, of course, will survive – we use this engine in tons of applications as you know. The 2.0-liter will basically phase out – the turbo – sooner or later, but I think we have a nice replacement available, not to all markets maybe, but with the 2.5 turbo, I think we can still come up with some nice powerful N-cars,” Biermann said.

As the i30 N hot-hatch won’t survive the strict emission ordeal, Hyundai will likely follow-up the i30 N with an all-electric version in the future, though it’ll take some time to materialise such a feat. For now, Hyundai will shift the i30 N’s fans towards the upcoming Ioniq 5 N performance EV, set to debut later in 2023.

The Hyundai Elantra N boasts a 2.0-litre turbocharged mill rated at 276 HP and 392 NM that pairs up with either six-speed manual gearbox or eight-speed automatic DCT. This setup grants the Elantra N a nought to 100 KM/H finish of 5.3 seconds with the eight-speed DCT, and a top speed of 250 KM/H.