Hyundai killed the i20 N and i30 N in Europe, but more on that news at the end of this story, as we now have to tell you about the i20 N Line, which has received a nip and tuck for 2024 on the right side of the pond (it's not sold overseas).
If you are somewhat familiar with Hyundai's naming scheme, then you are aware that N Line doesn't mean N. As a matter of fact, the N Line models feature a similar sporty makeover to their full-blown N equivalents. You know, kind of like Ford used to do with the discontinued Fiesta ST-Line and Fiesta ST.
With that piece of information away, let's see what the Hyundai i20 N Line brings new, starting with the exterior. One of the most significant changes revolves around the grille, which features a more conventional and duller styling. The Korean company also mentions the new 17-inch alloys, as well as the N Line-specific elements like the bumper inserts that differentiate it from the lesser variants.
Four new paint finishes, the Vibrant Blue Pearl, Lucid Lime Metallic, Lumen Gray Pearl, and Meta Blue Pearl, have been added to the color palette, comprising nine hues. On the inside, users will see the multi-color ambient lighting, which is part of the novelties. The enhanced interior lighting featuring LED tech all around is what rounds off the discreet makeover.
Photo: Hyundai
You are probably wondering what lies under the hood, right? Well, since Hyundai hasn't mentioned the powertrain at all, we will assume it retains the 1.2-liter mill with mild hybrid assistance. The 120 metric horsepower (118 hp/88 kW) produced allows the car to reach 100 kph (62 mph) in a hair over the ten-second mark.
Meanwhile, the Hyundai i20 N, which is a real subcompact hot hatch, is far quicker, taking 6.7 seconds for the sprint. The front-wheel drive model has a 230 kph (143 mph) top speed, and 204 ps (201 hp/150 kW) and 275 Nm (203 pound-foot) of torque bounce off the walls of the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that features turbocharging. The model also gets a six-speed manual transmission and a mechanical limited-slip differential.
As for the big news we mentioned in the intro, Hyundai just waved goodbye to the i20 N and i30 N subcompact and compact hot hatches, respectively, in Europe. Thus, the two models followed in the footsteps of the Kona N, which was discontinued a year ago. The information is official, and the reason is that Hyundai wants to commit further to electric vehicles before it fully transitions to EVs by 2035. As a result, the only N model in the company's lineup is the Ioniq 5 N, which is a high-performance EV.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News