N Line rekindles the made-for-South Africa Tucson Sport launched in 2019, albeit without any likely power gains. Image: Hyundai
Surprisingly absent from the new Tucson line-up when local pricing become available last year, Hyundai South Africa has now announced that the sporty Tucson N Line will become available on 26 May.
Set to arrive more than two years after debuting in Europe, the N Line, as its name indicates, gains a series of unique exterior and interior touches, but unlike the bespoke-to-South Africa last generation Tucson Sport, no expected added grunt underneath its bonnet.
Visually, the N Line is easily differentiated from the top-spec Elite in not only the N Line 19-inch alloy wheels, extended door sills and redesigned bumpers, but also a so-called jewelled take on the parametric grille, black fog lamp surrounds, satin silver front and rear skidplates, dual exhaust outlets and black mirror caps.
A reshaped lower front air intake rounds the N Line off, together with two mono-tone colours and five dual-tone hues contrasted by a Phantom Black roof.
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Inside, the revisions are more subtle and limited to a black roofliner, a N leather-wrapped steering wheel, black leather-and-suede seats with red stitching, alloy pedals, grey cloth with red accents on the dashboard, red stitch work on the doors and N embroidered seatbacks.
In the Europe, the Tucson N Line also comes with the option of an electronically controlled suspension system, though it remains to be seen whether this option will make into the South African derivative.
The biggest question mark surrounds the N Line’s choice of powertrain though. While available with a 1.6 T-GDI engine in Europe, supplemented with or without a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, or as a hybrid in addition to a plug-in hybrid, South African market models make do with a normally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol or, in the case of the Elite, a 2.0-litre turbodiesel.
Given that sister brand Kia offers the “conventional” 1.6 T-GDI in the new Sportage, it’s inclusion as a unit bespoke to the Tucson N Line could potentially happen, though it appears more likely that the mentioned oil-burner would take preference.
If so, expect unchanged power and torque figures of 137kW/416Nm, a top speed of 201 km/h, 0-100 km/h in 9.2 seconds and drive going to the front wheels through an eight-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.
While still someway off, expect Hyundai South Africa to potentially start dropping hints of the Tucson N Line throughout April in readiness for its unveiling in May.
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