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- '22 X3 M40i
https://www.automobilemag.com/news/high-performance-hyundai-tucson-n-rumored/
It looks like this segment could be heating up. Hyundai is scheduled to debut some of their future N offerings at Geneva this year. A mild "N-line" upgrade to a number of current vehicles(more show than go), with full blown N models in the coming years.
Normally I wouldn't find this interesting, but out of curiosity I test drove a top spec Hyundai Kona AWD this weekend while waiting for my CX-5's oil change. It comes with a 1.6T and a 7-spd DCT. It's only rated at 175hp/195tq, but was quick and quite composed for a vehicle in that segment. I was impressed. The salesman asked what I thought, and I responded, "you're going to sell the s*** out of these things". Honest response as I was flogging it on back roads for about 10 minutes. It was also comfortable in traffic. Car and Driver measured 0-60 in 6.6. BTW, dyno runs show it's putting down those factory hp/tq numbers at the wheels on a FWD model.
Point being, if they can do that to a $25k subcompact CUV think about what a Tucson with 340hp would do. That's the rumored Tucson N we could see at Geneva. I might be holding onto my '14 CX-5 and my Signature money until I see what Hyundai has to offer.
Also, please go test drive one of the sportier Hyundai products before passing judgement. They've come a long way in the last couple generations of vehicles. Just to validate my opinion, here's a short list of the more interesting cars I've owned in my 27 yrs of driving:
'84 RX-7 GSL
'91 Miata
'94 Honda Prelude VTEC
'91-93 Sentra SE-R's
'99 Corvette
'02 WRX sedan and wagon
'03 350Z
'04 Forester XT 5-spd(best sleeper ever)
'07 CX-7 GT
'08 BMW 335ix
'11 BMW 328ix
'14 CX-5 GT
Not trying to show off in any capacity, just anticipating someone suggesting I don't know what a "real" car is.
It looks like this segment could be heating up. Hyundai is scheduled to debut some of their future N offerings at Geneva this year. A mild "N-line" upgrade to a number of current vehicles(more show than go), with full blown N models in the coming years.
Normally I wouldn't find this interesting, but out of curiosity I test drove a top spec Hyundai Kona AWD this weekend while waiting for my CX-5's oil change. It comes with a 1.6T and a 7-spd DCT. It's only rated at 175hp/195tq, but was quick and quite composed for a vehicle in that segment. I was impressed. The salesman asked what I thought, and I responded, "you're going to sell the s*** out of these things". Honest response as I was flogging it on back roads for about 10 minutes. It was also comfortable in traffic. Car and Driver measured 0-60 in 6.6. BTW, dyno runs show it's putting down those factory hp/tq numbers at the wheels on a FWD model.
Point being, if they can do that to a $25k subcompact CUV think about what a Tucson with 340hp would do. That's the rumored Tucson N we could see at Geneva. I might be holding onto my '14 CX-5 and my Signature money until I see what Hyundai has to offer.
Also, please go test drive one of the sportier Hyundai products before passing judgement. They've come a long way in the last couple generations of vehicles. Just to validate my opinion, here's a short list of the more interesting cars I've owned in my 27 yrs of driving:
'84 RX-7 GSL
'91 Miata
'94 Honda Prelude VTEC
'91-93 Sentra SE-R's
'99 Corvette
'02 WRX sedan and wagon
'03 350Z
'04 Forester XT 5-spd(best sleeper ever)
'07 CX-7 GT
'08 BMW 335ix
'11 BMW 328ix
'14 CX-5 GT
Not trying to show off in any capacity, just anticipating someone suggesting I don't know what a "real" car is.
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