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A Hyundai N executive has refused to rule out a larger model from the high-performance division, but exactly what shape it would take remains a mystery.
A senior executive from Hyundai’s N department says a high-performance model with a larger body – to sit above the upcoming 2.5-tonne Ioniq 5 N electric car – is something the company is considering.
Speaking to website Carscoops, Vice President of N Brand Management Till Wartenberg said such a car from Hyundai N – the car-maker’s high-performance tuning arm – was possible.
“In order to be racetrack capable, and a corner rascal, following our N DNA, it’s more challenging to make a bigger SUV an N car,” said Mr Wartenberg.
“We have a very loyal fan community, I think they deserve also to have the cars from N that we want to deliver,” he added.
“The Ioniq 5 N is [at the limits of] a size and a weight, which we can make racetrack capable … An N car in a bigger segment is possible, but we have to see it has the N DNA.”
It’s not clear whether Mr Wartenberg was hinting at the slightly larger Ioniq 6 N – which has already been previewed in concept form – or if the company is indeed considering a full-size, high-performance SUV.
Despite the widespread popularity of SUVs, the future of the Hyundai Kona N – the only high-riding performance model from the company – is in doubt due to tightening emissions laws in some markets, as reported by Drive in December 2022.
In September 2020, leaked internal documents showed Hyundai was considering a Tucson N, fitted with a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 213kW and 422Nm – however, the model never eventuated.
Later that month, Lorenz Glaab, Hyundai’s Head of Global Product Management was asked about the Tucson N, replying: ”Everything’s possible. We monitor the market very attentively. If we believe in that particular segment – for the SUV body type – it makes sense, then we can move very quickly.”
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