- Hyundai appears to be testing new hardware for the Elantra N.
- It may adopt the brand’s 2.5-liter turbo four from Sonata N-Line.
- The exhaust note sounds deeper than the current-gen model.
While the car you see here may look just like the current Hyundai Elantra N, this is believed to be an early test mule for the next-generation model. In other words, it’s using the body of the current sedan to hide new hardware underneath. It’s expected to return as the flagship of the updated Elantra lineup, which is set to look noticeably different from the car on sale today.
Read: Hyundai’s Next Sedan Is Splitting Opinions Before Its Debut
This mule was recently caught on camera driving through the streets of South Korea. On closer inspection, several parts of the body have been shaved down, including the angular bumpers, but the biggest clue lies in the wheels.
They’re noticeably wider than those on the current Elantra N, suggesting that the new model is running with an increased track width, even if the body hasn’t caught up yet.
How Different Will It Really Be?
The next-generation Elantra will sit on an updated version of the current K3 platform, which it shares with both the Kona and the Kia K4, according to The Korean Car Blog. Chances are, every body panel on the Elantra N will be new as well. A camouflaged prototype of the standard model spotted last August already hinted at some major styling updates in the pipeline.
That earlier prototype featured a reshaped front end with a redesigned nose, an LED light bar, and sharply styled daytime running lights. Despite the changes, it kept the aggressive stance of the current car, which has drawn both fans and critics. The N version is expected to build on that with its own bumpers, sculpted side sills, and likely a fixed rear wing.
Powertrain Changes
The bigger mystery lies under the hood. In the video, the test car’s exhaust note carries a deeper, throatier sound than the current Elantra N, suggesting either a retuned exhaust system or the possibility of a new engine altogether.
There has been some speculation that the next Elantra N could ditch the current car’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder in favor of the same basic 2.5-liter turbo four of the larger Sonata N-Line.
The idea has merit, though it’s not a guaranteed power bump. As former Hyundai N boss Albert Biermann noted, the larger engine may not deliver any more output than the current setup.
Still, even if the numbers stay put at 276 horsepower and 289 lb-ft of torque, it’s hardly a disappointment. The current Elantra N is already one of the more entertaining compact performance cars on the market, and there’s no reason to believe that will change.
2026 Hyundai Elantra N
