Hyundai’s N Division Isn’t Done With Gas-Powered Cars

We may not have seen the best of Hyundai N yet

Hyundai’s N performance division only arrived in North America in 2019, which is very recent when compared to BMW M, Mercedes-AMG, or the GTI/R models from Volkswagen. The first Veloster N showed Americans that the division was to be taken seriously, but the EV shift over the last few years has already seen electric N cars like the Ioniq 5 N take over. Fortunately, a new report makes it clear that the N department isn’t done with gas models yet. This is great news for old-school enthusiasts who still want to enjoy relatively accessible, gas-powered performance cars.

Diverse Powertrains In N Division’s Future

In London, N division boss Joon Park said that new performance models from Hyundai won’t rely solely on electric power.

“The problem we have is that there is a perception from the media and our fans that Hyundai N is only focusing on the EV world, which is not true,” said Park when speaking to Autocar. “Even though we are going to introduce the Ioniq 6 N at Goodwood Festival of Speed, we are not limiting ourselves to EVs.”

That’s as much as Park was willing to divulge, but Hyundai has an extensive range of current and future hybrid powertrains that could feasibly power upcoming N models. A range-extender powertrain also seems likely at some point, whereby a gas engine acts as a generator, but this will be unlikely to satisfy enthusiasts as much as a gas engine powering the wheels directly.

N Lineup Will Soon Grow To Three Models

In America, the only full-fat N models on sale right now are the Ioniq 5 N and Elantra N. Up to 641 horsepower and tech like the N Drift Optimizer have added a level of engagement to the Ioniq 5 N we’re not accustomed to seeing in EVs, while the Elantra N is a powerful, angry, and quite noisy sedan that entertains in a completely different way.

Next month, the new Ioniq 6 N will debut, and we expect it to share many of its high-tech toys with the Ioniq 5 N. That should include simulated gear shifts and the N Active Sound+ system. Based on the teasers, it will also look the part.

Hyundai N’s decision to proceed with multiple powertrain options follows a recent trend of automakers not putting all their eggs in one basket. As Ram realized when bringing back its V8 engine to the 1500 pickup, consumers are not necessarily against a single powertrain, but choice is important.