Hyundai is bringing out an N Performance package to spice up its upcoming, redesigned Santa Fe.
The Korean Car Blog published these photos of what’s being referred to as a ‘Customizing Show Car’, but previews the various elements of the package that’ll reportedly be available in South Korea by year’s end.
A spokesperson from Hyundai Australia said, should the N Performance parts go into production, “we would be very keen to bring them to Australia”.
“In fact, we would be aiming to get a full range of N Performance upgrades for all models.”
But for the Skoda Kodiaq RS and the occasional black trim special edition, the large SUV segment has been lacking in sporty-looking options.
The N Performance adds a heaped helping of sportiness to the Santa Fe’s exterior, with unique front and rear bumpers, a rear spoiler and 21-inch alloy wheels in a mine-shaped design. There are also upgraded brakes and four chrome-ringed exhaust outlets – though they likely aren’t all functional.
Carbon-fibre is used liberally on the exterior, including on the exterior mirrors, the diffuser, and as a garnish on the bonnet. There’s a new grille, too, with vertical slats ahead of a black diamond mesh insert.
The featured example is painted in black with rose gold accents, like a contemporised Smokey and the Bandit Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am.
Changes to the interior include front sport seats upholstered in leather and Alcantara, with a matching Alcantara-covered dashboard. Carbon-fibre trim is applied to the steering wheel, centre console, door trims and the front seatbacks.
The N Performance package doesn’t involve any upgrades to the powertrains, however. In Korea, these include a new turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder hybrid producing a combined 169kW of power and 350Nm of torque, as well as a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 216kW and 418Nm.
When the new Santa Fe arrives in Australia later this year, however, it’s expected to use updated versions of the current engine portfolio. The local arm has said it’s “interested” in the electrified options, though no official decision has been made at this point in time.
The current engines are a naturally-aspirated 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine producing 206kW of power and 336Nm of torque, sending power to the front wheels via an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission, and a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine with 149kW of power and 440Nm powering all four wheels.
The turbo-diesel is likely to pick up a new wet-clutch eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
What do you think of the N Performance enhancements? Would you like to see them here?
