Hyundai’s most exciting little sports sedan, the Elantra N, just received some sharper new looks at the 2023 Shanghai auto show. It made its debut as the Hyundai Avante N, which is its name in its home South Korean market, but it’s a global model, so the Elantra N we get in the United States will likely be identical.
The Hyundai Elantra N gets the same new facelift as the standard 2024 Elantra, revealed in February. That means most of the updates are up front, with its new headlights, grille, and front apron. The headlights are slimmer, sharper, and more horizontal. They don’t extend into the front fenders as much anymore, which is a cleaner look. A bit of trim across the grille also connects the headlights. Thankfully, Hyundai extended the front apron upward, encroaching into and minimizing the grille. In a time when car companies are enlarging their grilles, this is a breath of fresh air.
Hyundai also gave the Elantra N new wheels, which oddly look a bit like the cloverleaf wheels of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. They look less busy than the pre-facelift wheels, though.
No specs were given in Shanghai, so we can assume that nothing mechanical was changed with the update. We expect the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque. Transmission choices should also be the same six-speed manual and eight-speed dual-clutch auto.
The Korean brand didn’t show off its interior, but the standard 2024 Avante’s interior hasn’t changed much; expect a similarly subtle cabin update for the Elantra N.
Even before the facelift, the Hyundai Elantra N was a killer little sports sedan package with sharp handling, a punchy engine, and an available transmission. Now it gets some more modern, grown-up looks.
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