I already knew the Elantra N TCR Edition would be a bit much with its massive rear wing, but I was still looking forward to giving it a run. After all, the TCR is as close as it gets to Hyundai’s current Elantra N touring car it races in IMSA. It’s also still not available in the U.S. as a Canada-exclusive forbidden fruit in North America.
- Base Trim Engine
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2L I4 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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6-speed manual
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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276 HP @5500 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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289 lb.-ft. @ 2100 RPM
That massive carbon fiber and adjustable rear wing was part of a series of recommendations from Hyundai‘s own touring car drivers. It improves high-speed stability, while a set of upgraded brakes and sticker tires helps endure longer, harder lap times. The TCR is serious stuff!
What I didn’t expect, though, was the flashy N livery on my test car’s flanks, part of a dealer-installed accessory. Call me old, but I’ve grown out of cars that scream ‘look at me,’ and the whole package here just felt way too overzealous for my taste. Anyway, it’s my job to test out cars, so I gulped down my pride and took off in this bright blue, snortin’ and fartin’, big-winged hooligan. But it didn’t take time for me to realize, from all the attention this car attracted, that the TCR is well-known in the Hyundai community. A community that’s totally lit up.
To provide the most accurate and up-to-date information, this article uses data sourced from various trusted sources and the manufacturer, as well as the author’s personal experience.
A Very Devoted Audience Hiding In Plain Sight
Frederic Mercier, Hyundai Canada’s product communications manager for the Quebec region, was telling me that during a dedicated Elantra N TCR event that took place at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (Mosport), he was baffled by the amount of enthusiasm that surrounded the N line. The automaker had invited not just members of the media and content creators to the event, but actual N-car owners from across the country. Mercier underlined the fact that it’s a hot and boiling community of proud and engaged individuals.
Experiencing The Hyundai N’s Impact In
And I noticed that myself pretty fast. The more I drove around in the N TCR, the more I noticed how many Elantra Ns were on the road. And the first evening I hit the gym, I walked out of the building only to spot a fellow Elantra N owner parked next to the car, grabbing pictures and creating social media stories with it.
I walked up. “You like the car?” I asked. He immediately pulled away, telling me he couldn’t believe he was actually seeing one on the road. “Aren’t those super rare and limited production?” the visibly younger-than-me fellow replied.
I explained to him that I was an auto journalist and that the car was a loaned press unit for a review. The lad was quick to reply that he was in charge of our local Hyundai dealer’s social media feeds and content creation, and that his dream was to one day do my job (I get that a lot). He took down my name, drove off in his louder-than-stock Elantra N, and later added me to Facebook (yes, I’m that old).
Each Encounter Revealed Just How Hardcore Hyundai’s N Fans Really Are
The more I drove the Elantra N TCR, the less I was worried about what people thought of me with that humongous wing, giant brakes, and equally ostentatious N livery. That’s because I was actually receiving positive attention my way. Yes, people looked at it, but I was also getting a slew of positive thumbs from Honda, Subaru, and Toyota owners of modified hot compacts. And Hyundai owners.
But not just N owners, but regular models, too, like Accents and base-model Elantras. Reckless driving to impress me — something I never recommend doing — was also a common thing by some of these owners. That’s also something I’m used to with this job, by the way. For some reason, some folks react oddly when they spot a car on the road that raises their pulse. Somehow, this Hyundai had that effect on some of them.
Grabbing Attention As A Supercar Would
Moving on later into the week, and on my way to brunch with my brother, an Elantra N-Line owner with an N Performance sticker on his windshield suddenly parked next to us. The driver, who appeared to be a much younger dude than me, was losing his mind at the sight of the thing, asking me if he could take photos of the car. I obviously said yes, but his sheer excitement was something I had only previously seen with special machines like supercars or rare, classic JDM cars. This is a Hyundai Elantra!
Performance Hyundais Went From A Joke To The Hip Car On The Road
So, that’s how much the automotive passion has shifted in the span of only a few decades. It also proves how Hyundai’s efforts at attracting hardcore automotive enthusiasts with its N line has actually paid off. When I was growing out of the 1990s as a young adult buying my first car, Hyundais were honestly not on the radar of enthusiasts. Sure, the automaker had the Tiburon sports coupe, but it was never as polished or sorted out as, say, a Honda Prelude or a Toyota Celica.
Back then, kids bought Hondas, VWs, Toyotas, Mazdas, and, in some cases, even some American stuff, like the Chevrolet Cavalier/Pontiac Sunfire, or the Dodge Neon. The Elantra was a ho-hum, super cheap appliance on wheels that folks got because of low monthly payments and a good warranty. But something happened along the line. The Japanese got soft in the sport compact/hot hatchback segment, and Hyundai grasped an opportunity to gain market share while they were on their knees with the very first Veloster N.
Hyundai’s Future As An Enthusiast Brand Looks Bright
Which is why Hyundai Canada isn’t worried that the TCR Edition will end up sleeping in Canadian dealerships. Fred Mercier is confident that there’s demand and hype for it, and the automaker could even increase the number of examples if it becomes a sales hit. Still no news on U.S. market penetration, by the way.
After dropping off the TCR at the press office following a full week with it, enjoying its tarmac-kissing performance the best I could on my favorite bits of asphalt, the Hyundai rep sent me a screenshot of the TCR parked at a nearby park I often like to go to wind down. The photo, or the “spotted”, came from a fellow Veloster owner who had spotted it and felt the need to pull over and make a social media post about it. How many people are doing this with Honda Civics these days?