Hyundai i20 N Line Unveiled — All You Need To Know About The Hot Hatch From Hyundai

Hyundai has never been known as a performance brand in India. It has always been known for its no-nonsense, utterly reliable cars. However, in a few international markets, the Hyundai N brand is a big name when it comes to performance. For a couple of years now, there have been rumours about the N brand coming to India and now, with the i20 N Line, it is finally here.

However, instead of bringing in the top-spec, full-blown i20 N Line powered by a 1.6 T-GDi turbo-petrol engine, Hyundai has opted for a more subtle approach. It features the same 1.0-litre T-GDi turbo-petrol unit from the outgoing model of the i20.

Hyundai i20 N Line Design

The design brief of the i20 N Line seems to have been really simple - make the hatchback look as sporty and aggressive as possible. The exteriors of the hot hatch feature reworked bumpers and a blacked-out cascading grille with N Line badging. The chequered flag theme on the grille is quite visible.

When viewed from the side, the 16-inch, dual-tone alloy wheels grab your attention. It also gets sporty red-coloured brake calipers. At the rear is a sporty spoiler and a twin-tip muffler. It gets a red stripe towards the bottom of the car, all around.

Hyundai i20 N Line Interior

On the inside, the i20 N Line will continue to come loaded with a ton of features including the large touchscreen, digital instrument cluster and connected technology; among others. The seats are sporty with a chequered flag theme and the 'N' logo. The red highlights are carried to the insides of the car as well.

The steering wheel too is brand-new with a sporty design and the N badging. The N badging can also be found on the gear lever. Infotainment is handled by a 10.25-inch touchscreen that is connected to a 7-speaker premium audio system from Bose.

Hyundai i20 N Line Engine Specs & Performance

As mentioned earlier, the global spec of the i20 N Line is offered in two engine options. The 1.6-litre T-GDi engine has a maximum power output of 201bhp 6,000rpm and a peak torque output of 275Nm 4,500rpm. However, we in India will not be receiving the bigger engine,

Hyundai India will be launching the hot hatch only with the 1.0-litre T-GDi engine already found in the standard i20. It has a maximum power output of 118bhp 6,000rpm and a peak torque output of 172Nm 3,000rpm. The 1.0-litre T-GDi engine will come mated to either an iMT clutchless transmission or a seven-speed DCT for faster gearshifts.

Hyundai also claims that the exhaust note is sportier and this improves the driving experience. The steering and the suspension have been retuned for sportier handling and this has been done with inputs from Hyundai's Motorsport team. The braking is also better with disc brakes at all four ends.

It will come with multiple airbags, vehicle stability management, electronic stability control, hill hold control, etc. The brand is yet to reveal prices for the hot hatch, and the same is expected to happen soon.

Thoughts On Hyundai i20 N Line Being Revealed

The Indian automotive market has matured in the last few years and today, more buyers are looking for performance variants and premium variants than ever before. With this trend, we expect the Hyundai i20 N Line to perform very well in the Indian market even in terms of sales. However, this depends on the pricing.

The i20 N Line rivals the likes of the Volkswagen Polo GT and the Tata Altroz iTurbo in India. Hyundai would certainly aim at pricing the i20 N Line below the Polo GT TSI, but we're not so sure if it would undercut the price of the Tata Altroz iTurbo.