Hyundai Confirms First N Line Product To Launch In India In 2021

More N Line models in the pipeline for the next few years

• Hyundai’s N performance division offers two types of models: proper performance N products and mildly tweaked N Line products.

• N Line products confirmed for India with the first one due to launch this year.

• The i20 N Line will be the first one since it has already been teased and spied testing.

• N Line models will add sporty cosmetics inside and out as well as mechanical tweaks to make the drive engaging.

• The Venue and Creta could also get N Line variants in the future.

We first got wind of Hyundai’s plan to bring its new sporty range of N products to India in mid-2019. Two years on, the Korean carmaker has confirmed it will be launching a N Line product before the end of the year that will be based on the i20 premium hatchback.

The CEO and MD of Hyundai Motor India, S.S. Kim, has said, “With N Line, Hyundai Motor India will continue to challenge new boundaries and introduce new cars that amplify the aspirations and personalities of new age millennial and gen Z buyers.” 

“To augment customer delight, we will introduce a new N Line model in 2021 and subsequently, launch additional N Line models for Indian customers over the next few years,” he added. 

There are two types of Hyundai N products. The proper performance models only carry the N badge while those with minor sporty changes get the N Line moniker. It’s similar to BMW’s nomenclature with M performance products and M Sport variants of regular models.

Hyundai N Line models aim to offer a sporty experience while still being attainable, just like regular Hyundai cars. They feature motorsport-inspired styling inside and out and are expected to get some mechanical tweaks to the suspension that would make the cars more fun to drive than the standard version.

Also read: Top 5 Things To Expect From The India-bound Hyundai i20 N Line

The i20 N Line has already been spied testing in India and was teased in the N Line video as well. It made its global debut in late-2020. It will be offered with the same 1-litre turbo-petrol engine as the regular i20 that makes 120PS and 172Nm with the choice of a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT auto. The global model also features 48V mild-hybrid tech that could be introduced on the i20 N Line in India. Meanwhile, the i20 N, which is the real hot hatch performance model, features a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol that makes 204PS but that would make it too pricey for our market.

The i20 N Line would likely feature a sporty interior theme as well with lots of N badges and emblems. It is expected to get the same feature list as the top-spec i20 Asta Opt, with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, leatherette upholstery, and six airbags.

Hyundai’s global N Line lineup includes the likes of the i10 as well while others like the latest generation Elantra and Tucson are not offered in India to begin with. The Venue and Creta could also get N Line variants in the coming years. An N Line variant would likely add a small premium of less than Rs 50,000 for the cosmetic updates and mechanical tweaks over the current top-spec variant.

The i20 N Line could be launched around Diwali. It’s only direct rival would be the Volkswagen Polo GT whose design is a decade old at this point.