Hyundai Green-Lights Elantra N Generation Two

Hyundai has confirmed that a second generation of the fantastic Elantra N is in the works. While this is exciting news, there is also a sad element to the announcement made by the company’s Executive Technical Advisor, Albert Biermann. For those who don’t know the family tree, the i30 line in Europe is equivalent to the Elantra line in North America and the Avante line in Korea. Europe gets the i30 (hatchback), i30 Sportback, and i30 Sedan. Over there, the i30 N is the equivalent to what we get here as the Elantra N, just in previous-generation hatchback form. According to Biermann, that model is not going to receive a new generation due to stricter emmissions regulations coming to the Old Continent.

Biermann’s title as head of the N division shifted to Technical Advisor earlier this year, sparking rumors that the performance arm of the Korean automaker was seeing troubled times. This news brings some positive light to the situation, as Biermann also confirmed the next Elantra N would remain an internal combustion vehicle rather than a hybrid or electric vehicle. We already know the department is heavily focusing on electric performance with the upcoming IONIQ 5 N and IONIQ N, but for those who still want affordable small car fun, this is great news. According to this statement, the i30 Sedan N was already in the company’s long-term plans while other models like the i30 N and Kona N are on borrowed time. Whether this hold true just for Europe or the entire world remains to be seen.

More on the next Elantra N here.