We read at Motoring Australia that Hyundai looks set to deliver a faster, better handling variant of its first pickup truck following comments from Hyundai N Performance boss, Albert Biermann.
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When carsales asked if he planned to create an N version of the Korean brand’s forthcoming answer to the Toyota HiLux, which will also perform a Kia variant, Biermann replied:
“You have to be ready for everything from Hyundai and Kia, everything things is possible. “So there’s no limitations.”
Paving the way for a Ford Range Raptor rival is the sales success of the Blue Oval’s wild Baja-channeling ute, which has shocked many car execs despite its towering $75,000-plus price tag.
Set to be based on the pick-up truck that is currently being developed by Kia and Hyundai, the N ute is expected to follow in the Raptor’s wake by offering long-travel race-truck-style suspension, aggressive looks and more power.
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Hotly tipped to motivate the Hyundai N pick-up is a more powerful version of the i30 N’s turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that could push out around 225kW.
Despite the extra weight, a 0-100km/h of less than seven seconds is feasible, meaning the Hyundai N ute will humble the Ford for straight-line performance, if Biermann’s bosses green-light the pick-up for production.
As far as other N models in the pipeline, the former BMW M boss said a hatchback smaller than the i30 N is on the way and it will almost certainly be based on the i20.
Biermann also said that after its launch an SUV model based on the footprint of the i30 N would follow, making it likely to be the Tucson N.
In the future an N-fettled battery-powered production EV will also be offered by Hyundai, but Biermann refused to confirm when due to internal concerns within the Hyundai that buyers are “not ready yet” for such a vehicle.
