The Tucson is the latest in the Hyundai lineup to receive the sporty-looking N Line treatment.
Hyundai has recently revealed a sporty(-looking) trim level to its all-new Tucson SUV. To arrive first in Europe, this new variant has been given much the same treatment as the Sonata or i20 N Line seen prior, and is along the veins of the AMG Line offered by Mercedes, or the M Sport package on various BMWs.
Starting from the front, this new sharp-looking Tucson variant chunkier front bumpers, which Hyundai claims emphasises the ‘muscular stance’ of this South Korean SUV. Also featured on this sharp-looking crossover is a new black front grille, complete with an inset N Line badge.
Moving down the side, deeper side skirts and body coloured side mouldings add to the Tucson’s Sensuous Sportiness design identity. N Line exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels and black wing mirror caps are to be seen on here too.
Round the back, present on the Tucson N-Line is a new rear bumper featuring a silver skid plate/rear diffuser combo and equally shiny twin exhaust tips. Topping off the exterior distinctions would be the longer rear roof spoiler and the black roof, which is available as an option with a two-tone exterior hue.
Stepping inside, the N Line variants of the Tucson gains various sporty touches like leather and suede upholstered N sports seats and red stitching throughout. An N steering wheel, leather gear knob and various metal bits across the interior helps its differentiate itself from cabin’s of the rest of the new Tucson lineup, which in itself is well appointed featuring a 10.25 inch central infotainment touchscreen and a tri-zone climate control.
While sporty looking on the outside and inside however, this athletic aesthetic doesn’t really translate to the powertrain. That is because being just an exterior (and interior) enhancement package, the Tucson N Line doesn’t really feature any real performance upgrades under the hood.
In fact, the N Line trim level is actually available on the entire Tucson range, which in turn means under the hood of this sporty-looking SUV lies a range of 1.6 litre Smartstream petrol or diesel four-cylinders in various states of electrification and tune. The most powerful of which is 1.6 T-GDI hybrid that outputs a (surprisingly) healthy 230 PS.
There is some sportiness to be found in the suspension however, as Hyundai has claimed that N Line Tucsons fitted with the an optional Electronically Controlled Suspension (ECS) system had been specially tweaked to react faster and stronger compared to its hum-drum counterparts. As a consequence too, the South Korean automaker claims this particular trim level of mid-sized SUV should feel more connected and slightly heavier than the other variants in the range.
Prices for this N-Line Tucsons have yet to be announced thus far. Having said that, it should be priced at a slight premium over the normal models when this particular variant of the best-selling Hyundai in Europe goes on sale over there in spring of this year.
PRESS RELEASE: Hot on the heels of the recent launch of the all-new TUCSON, Hyundai Motor has unveiled a sporty N Line trim of its best-selling model in Europe. The all-new TUCSON N Line combines the ultimate dynamic design, comfort and advanced connectivity of TUCSON with the motorsport-inspired styling and attitude of N Line.
The all-new TUCSON N Line offers sporty and distinctive exterior design features and differentiating interior details so customers can enjoy a driving experience with even more attitude.
“With the all-new Hyundai TUCSON N Line, we are bringing our popular sporty trim level to the latest generation of our European best-seller,” says Andreas-Christoph Hofmann, Vice President Marketing and Product at Hyundai Motor Europe. “Our all-new TUCSON N Line features exclusive performance styling and a state-of-the-art powertrain line-up with electrified solutions, to offer even more choice for Hyundai customers.”
An ultimate dynamic exterior design inspired by motorsport
Like the standard model, the all-new TUCSON N Line stands out for its progressive design, integrating sharp lines, angles and shapes, as well as TUCSON’s new signature parametric jewel patterns.
The muscular stance of the all-new TUCSON N Line’s exterior design is based on Hyundai’s “Sensuous Sportiness” design identity, while at the same time offering refined performance-oriented design prompts. As with the standard TUCSON, the N Line trim features prominent geometric patterns known as “parametric jewels”, giving it a powerful and energetic character. In addition, a low and wide stance emphasises its sporty credentials.
At the front, parametric jewels are displayed elaborately on the grille, which sits taller and is wider than on the all-new TUCSON. For the N Line version, the parametric jewel patterns on the grille pieces have been elaborated with edges, creating additional reflections depending on the angle. The grille also incorporates the N Line badge. Under the grille sits a rectangular-shaped bumper and a refined air intake, which is taller and bigger than on the standard TUCSON for a sportier look. The bumper, which is replicated at the rear, works harmoniously with the bright silver skid plates. Meanwhile, striking black bezels frame the head lamps.
At the side, the all-new TUCSON N Line is characterised by an energetic-looking side moulding in body colour which offers dynamic proportions and lines to provide a slimmer look. This is complemented by a vibrant daylight opening (DLO) in glossy Black. The DLO terminates in the fast angle of the C-pillar, which generates a race track-inspired feeling of forward motion. Stylish Phantom Black side mirrors further enhance the all-new TUCSON N Line’s sleek styling.
To emphasise the car’s sporty appearance at the rear, the all-new TUCSON N Line is outfitted with an aerodynamic spoiler that is longer than that of the standard model and garnished with fins. The lower rear is accentuated by a red reflector band and a diffusor. Aggressive twin tip muffler exhausts further underline the fact the model’s designers took many cues from the world of high-performance cars.
The all-new TUCSON N Line is equipped with stronger and sportier 19-inch alloy wheels. Continuing the Sensuous Sportiness theme, parametric patterns emphasise their geometric structure. These are supplemented by wheel arches which match the body colour of the car.
All-new TUCSON N Line customers can choose from seven exterior colours. For even more personalisation, customers can select an optional two-tone roof in Phantom Black with five colour trims.
A spacious interior with sporty touches
The all-new TUCSON N Line’s sophisticated and spacious interior features flowing forms inspired by waterfalls. This is accentuated by sporty N Line interior styling and an exclusive colour pack.
All-new TUCSON N Line customers can enjoy N-branded sporty seats with black suede and leather seat coverings, as well as red stitching. Red stitching is also woven on the door trim and armrest, while the grey cloth crash pad is garnished with red accents. A dedicated N steering wheel arrives complete with an N logo. Other N design elements are to be found on the leather gear shift knob or shift by wire console cover, depending on the chosen transmission. Meanwhile, a black headliner gives the interior an extra sporty touch. Further N Line enhancements include metal pedals, a foot rest and door steps.
Enhanced ride and handling for certain engines
The all-new TUCSON N Line has been developed and tested in Europe. Like the all-new TUCSON, it features an optional Electronically Controlled Suspension (ECS) which offers additional flexibility on the road through adaptive damping technology. With ECS, Hyundai’s engineers have achieved a very versatile driving behaviour, depending on the situation and driver preference.
The ECS automatically and continuously controls the vehicle’s suspension to maximise driving comfort and performance. It achieves this by taking into account driving conditions such as speed, road surfaces, cornering, stopping requirements and acceleration. By controlling the damping force on each individual wheel, ECS reduces roll, pitch and vertical motion to enhance ride and handling. Engineers at Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center (HMETC) created separate optimised ECS parameter settings with specific tuning for versions of the all-new TUCSON N Line that are equipped with 48-volt powertrains. This provides even more driving fun for N Line customers, matching the model’s sporty look.
Hyundai’s engineers optimised the ECS for variants of the all-new TUCSON N Line to achieve a better damping of vibrations and more agility. On the all-new TUCSON N Line, the ECS logic reacts faster and more strongly to both body movements and steering commands. In Normal mode, the engineers maintained the good driving comfort in city traffic, ensuring it only becomes significantly tighter at typical country road speeds. Meanwhile, Sport mode has been sharpened and offers more control and feedback over the entire speed range. Here, more initial connection and anti-roll support ensure even greater control on the road.
As a consequence of the adjusted ECS logic, the steering also feels different on these variants. It is more centred, while feeling better connected and slightly heavier.
Powertrain line-up, safety and connectivity
As with the standard version, the all-new TUCSON N Line is available with a variety of powertrains for both power and efficiency, which are available with different levels of electrification or without. The N Line trim will be available with all variants of the all-new TUCSON except the low power diesel version.
Each powertrain is based on one of two Hyundai Smartstream engines for maximum efficiency: a four-cylinder 1.6-litre T-GDI gasoline or a four-cylinder 1.6-litre CRDi diesel engine.
Engines:
- 1.6 T-GDI Plug-in Hybrid (265 PS)
- 1.6 T-GDI Hybrid (230 PS)
- 1.6 T-GDI 48V Mild Hybrid (180 or 150 PS)
- 1.6 T-GDI (150 PS)
- 1.6 CRDi 48V (136 PS)
As with the all-new TUCSON, a host of human-oriented technology features enable an intuitive user experience, including a fully digital configurable dual cockpit which consists of a new 10.25-inch open cluster without a housing and 10.25-inch AVN touchscreen with Hyundai Bluelink® connected car services. This offers a personalised space that is intuitively optimised for a high-tech user experience.
The all-new TUCSON N Line also features Multi-Air Mode technology. This consists of a combination of direct and indirect air vents for air conditioning and heating to create a more pleasant indoor environment with more gentle air flow. The three-zone climate control caters to passengers in the rear seats in addition to occupants in the front of the vehicle. In addition, ventilated seats in the front and heated seats in the front and rear provide further comfort for the driver and passenger alike.
In addition, the all-new TUCSON N Line’s best-in-class driver-assistance and active safety package make it one of the safest vehicles on the market. Blind-spot View Monitor (BVM) offers an enhancement of the views on the side mirror by showing the rear view in the cluster when the turn signal is activated. Meanwhile, Highway Driving Assist (HDA) keeps the car in the centre of its lane while adapting the speed based on navigation data and traffic around, for example for upcoming curves on highways. Among others, Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA), which is available on the hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, allows the car to park itself, taking the pressure off the driver in tricky parking situations. A variety of other safety features contribute to improving visibility, protecting both front and back-seat occupants, and preventing collisions.
The all-new TUCSON N Line will be available in Europe starting in spring 2021. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants will be available from summer 2021.
