Even as Hyundai Motor Co. leans into an electric future, it's stretching the bounds of internal-combustion offerings with N line performance versions of the Kona subcompact crossover Elantra sedan.
Hyundai Canada on Monday announced pricing for the 2022 models of each. The Kona N will start at $41,824 while the Elantra N, with manual transmission, starts at $38,924. Both prices include shipping. The Elantra N with dual-clutch transmission begins at $40,724, after shipping.
The high-performance Kona N is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre, four-clylinder engine that delivers 276 HP and 289 lb.-ft. of torque. The Kona N’s engine is mated to an N-exclusive eight-speed, wet, dual-clutch transmission for quick gear shifts and downshift rev-matching.
The vehicle comes with Hyundai’s N Grin Shift button, which offers drivers an additional 10 horsepower; N Power Sense Shift, which the company says offers the “feel of manual transmission.”
Hyundai Canada says the electronic limited slip differential “will provide drivers a unique carving experience when turning through corners as it maximizes cornering speed while maintaining stability.”
Hyundai, which promotes the N division as an outgrowth of its motorsports activity, said earlier this year that the Kona N would be its first crossover to undergo the transformation to track-ready "corner rascal."
While the non-performance Kona is offered in either front-wheel or all-wheel drive, Hyundai said the N version will be fwd only for simplicity and to keep pricing competitive.
The Kona was Hyundai Canada’s top-selling vehicle through the first three quarters of 2021 (year-end numbers aren’t yet available). The automaker sold 8,046 of them.
