Australian debut on horizon
Following the release of two teaser images in February, Hyundai has unveiled its sporty Tucson N Line with unique exterior and interior features and upgraded dynamics.
It is available in Europe with three engines – a 130kw 1.6-litre turbo-petrol carried over from the existing Tucson range, as well as mild-hybrid powertrains in 1.6 and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel form.
Hyundai’s Australian wing, however, has no plans to bring the electrified unit Down Under.
While it has not yet confirmed the N Line will be imported, Hyundai Motor Company Australia spokesman Guido Schenken said the group was studying the business case for the market.
“We’ve made no secret of the fact our focus is on building an N performance family, and so we will, of course, be studying the business case for any new product that should become available,” he said.
As the sportiest version of the South Korean medium SUV, the Tucson N Line features a sharper suspension setup which increases rigidity by five percent at the rear and eight percent in the front, as well as a recalibrated electric steering system to give a more direct, linear feel at the wheel.
The N Line features a dark theme compared to the standard range, with a dark mesh-pattern grille, unique 19inch alloy wheels, black side mirror housings and rear spoiler, black-bezel headlights, unique daytime running lights and LED light design, darkened window frames and body-coloured door handles.
On the inside, customers will find alloy pedals and N-branded leathersuede sport seats with red accented stitching, which also extends to the steering wheel and shift lever.
The current Tucson line-up is offered with a 130kw-265nm 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 136kw-400nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel unit with front and all-paw driveline options. Pricing kicks off from $28,150 plus on-road costs for the entry-level Go, and up to $48,800 for the top-dog Highlander diesel.
The Highlander benefits from equipment including an 8.0-inch display with sat-nav and Apple Carplayandroid Auto, eight-speaker audio, front parking sensors, wireless phone charging, a panoramic glass sunroof, heated and ventilated seats, a power tailgate and a 4.2-inch multi-function digital cluster.
Depending on where the N Line is positioned, it will likely sport the aforementioned equipment.