Hyundai plans to grow its N performance division with more variety.An intermediate step between the N Line trims of standard Hyundais and full-on track-ready N models will be introduced.Specifics weren’t discussed, but Hyundai has a product offensive scheduled between now and 2030, which is said to be targeting more market niches.
At the 2026 CEO Investors Day event in Seoul today, Hyundai detailed its business plan through 2030, which includes an expansion of its N performance subbrand. The current lineup of N models includes the Elantra N, the Ioniq 5 N, and the upcoming Ioniq 6 N—which are all sold in the U.S.—as well as the i20 N and i30 N, hatchbacks that are sold in markets outside of North America.
Hyundai
Hyundai Tucson N Line
Hyundai also offers an N Line trim of many of its core models, including the Elantra, Sonata, and Tucson in the United States, but those models focus on sporty looks over outright performance. While the brand’s N models sold just 20,000 units globally in 2025, the N-Line trims of the core lineup moved 161,000 units in the same period.
The company sees an intermediate step in the N family between the two as an opportunity to sell even more. Details are sparse at the moment, but according to the company’s presentation, the as-yet unnamed high-volume performance trims will feature powertrains from the N models but at a more affordable price and in more daily-driver-friendly packages.
Hyundai
Other brands have taken similar strategies. Consider the Honda Civic, which is offered in a trio of Sport, Si, and Type R forms, offering a stepped formula in both performance and pricing. BMW has found success in offering standard, “M lite,” and M models, too.
We think this strategy also provides an opportunity for Hyundai to go harder on the flagship N models, pushing the performance envelope further to create more track-focused products. It also may mean more N models in general, with more variety of powertrains, body styles, and price tags.
More information on the N brand’s expansion will likely come soon. Hyundai is a brand with a reputation for moving quickly, and with several new models on the horizon in the next year—including an all-new Elantra and Tucson—we expect to see N Line, “N Lite,” and N variants launching alongside them.
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Drew Dorian is a lifelong car enthusiast who has also held a wide variety of consumer-focused positions throughout his career, ranging from financial counselor to auto salesperson. He has dreamed of becoming a Car and Driver editor since he was 11 years old—a dream that was realized when he joined the staff in April 2016. He’s a born-and-raised Michigander and learned to drive on a 1988 Pontiac Grand Am. His automotive interests run the gamut from convertibles and camper vans to sports cars and luxury SUVs.