Test bench | Kona N and Elantra N: the alphabet according to Albert

(Sonoma, California) After having worked for a long time within M, the sports branch of BMW, Albert Biermann shares his knowledge with Hyundai to create the envy of the letter N.

Eric LeFrançois
Special collaboration

One can judge rather vain this eagerness to beef up gasoline engines and to look at the future in the rear-view mirror. The severity of the Highway Code, road congestion and the slightest fascination with speed do not plead for a comeback of these cars with strong temperament. However, the Kona N and Elantra N know where they put their wheels.

For manufacturers, this (brief) upsurge before switching to the electric world aims to restore prestige to their production by highlighting not so much the style or sophistication of a model as its performance.

The little pleasures

It may seem quite schizophrenic, when the time has come to wipe out fossil fuels and speed is no longer a rising value. However, there are still drivers in search of driving sensations, not pure speed, who like the rather spicy seasoning of these cars.

Having a good time at the wheel would have become an accumulation of tiny pleasures, made up of furtive accelerations, delicate “touching the road”, simple pleasures for the eyes as well as for the hearing.

However, if the commercial interest in small muscular cars, but financially accessible, is not as obvious any more as before, the exercise remains unavoidable. This kind of car allows very reasonable brands to spice up their range on the air of “look what I can do”.

This is where Albert Biermann makes his debut.

Not too flashy

Even more than the Elantra N which is exposed to the competition (see the screen on the competition), the Kona N, him, explores a territory which avoids him to measure head-on with his rivals. This one generally prefers mountain boots to sneakers.

To spice up the sauce, like the spiciest Elantra, this Kona N only bears a few discreet distinctive signs. The times are changing. In the past, we would have given in the 40-story high spoiler, the fender flares or the most diverse decals. Now we stick to flared side skirts, contrasting color lines and big exhausts.

All served in chic, quiet shades (with the notable exception of performance blue) for prices that should logically be below the $ 40,000 mark. Hyundai management promises to unbox them for us before Christmas Eve. For now, the only certainty for the wallet is that there are hardly any options.

Well designed and very well made, the interior is subject to few modifications. We notice – and we appreciate more particularly on the Elantra N – the more enveloping seats. Just like the configurable instrumentation unit and the essential infotainment screen that accompany it. On the latter is displayed information that seems to come straight from a game console.

It includes, among other things, a stopwatch, centrifugal force and pressure applied to both the accelerator pedal and braking. Since we are talking about the crankset, we must regret its too smooth finish. Perfect for running, perhaps, but in contact with wet soles, it does not give happy results. To review.

Varied flavors

The technical sheet of the Kona N and Elantra N reveals several convergences. Indeed, the two come alive with the same mechanics of 2 L supercharged by turbocharger always in a good mood. It spits nearly 300 horsepower to the front wheels alone. The latter take the blow well, helped it goes without saying by a set of performance tires.

The Kona N and Elantra N respond quickly and well when called upon. There is enough torque available so that you don’t have to whip them all the time, and the braking doesn’t lack bite either.

There are differences all the same. The Elantra N offers a six-speed manual transmission. The Kona N, on the other hand, swears loyalty to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. A box with which the buyer of the Elantra N can also make an appointment.

Several technical similarities, therefore, but behind the wheel, you shouldn’t expect the same sensations. Lighter and above all more rigid (a tubular frame reinforces the structure between the passenger compartment and the trunk), the chassis of the Elantra N changes a lot here. Even more if the manual transmission is on the program. The latter has an easy-to-dose clutch, correctly staged gears and, surprisingly, it lowers consumption. In addition to this concert of praise, lower maintenance costs should be added. As pleasant as it is, this box is deprived of a “whirlwind” device (launch control). And will never manage to beat the times (acceleration and times) obtained by the automatic gearbox, which will only be criticized for a certain sluggishness in downshifting, unless you use the paddles on the steering wheel.

The driving of the Elantra N appears less eruptive, finer and also more comfortable than that of the Kona N. The latter nevertheless behaves with a certain jubilation. More agile and more lively in its reactions, the Kona N does not hesitate to put the square to negotiate the tightest turns possible. The Elantra N, it displays on such a course more neutrality and calms better the parasitic lifts in the steering wheel. It also shows greater precision in the corners that are more open and negotiated more quickly.

Hyundai doesn’t plan to sell tons of Kona N and Elantra N, it’s true. But it is said that these vehicles with strong temperament that few people buy sell many others. Dealer faith.

Albert?

After having devoted nearly 30 years of his professional life to BMW and its sports subsidiary M, Albert Biermann now directs the destinies of the N program (for Namyang, a city in South Korea where the research and development center is located of the brand). This high-performance antenna aims to create exceptional vehicles intended to demonstrate the technological know-how of the brand, but also to improve its capital of sympathy with driving enthusiasts.

The red button

Like the most elite sports brands, the Kona N and Elantra N have a red button grafted to the steering wheel. By squeezing this scarlet capsule, the engine produces 10 additional horsepower for a period of 20 seconds. It cannot be abused, since Hyundai invites you to respect an interval of 40 seconds before repeating the experiment to cool the requested components.

Share your experience

Press will soon publish the test of the following vehicles: Ford Maverick, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester and Volkswagen Tiguan. If you own one of these vehicles or are expecting delivery, we would love to hear from you.

Transportation and accommodation costs related to this report were paid in part by Hyundai Canada.