Hyundai is a huge brand that produces a lot of straight-edge, no-nonsense cars. But every once in a while, it comes up with something weird and fun. The wonderful Ioniq 5 N and Ioniq 6 N, two of the most objectively enjoyable EVs on the market, are great examples.
The Elantra N TCR Edition is another one. It was released back in Hyundai’s home market of South Korea almost exactly one year ago, complete with some (in my opinion) extremely cool N graphics on the exterior. The model eventually made its way to the Canadian market this summer, and now, it’s finally making its way stateside.
It only takes one look at the TCR Edition to understand why it’s weird: That gigantic rear wing, which looks to be as tall as the roofline of the car. It harkens back to the peak of Big Wing, with the likes of the Subaru WRX STI and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution battling it out in the 2000s and early 2010s (gosh, how I miss those days).
The reason Hyundai calls this trim the TCR Edition is to celebrate the company’s six consecutive wins in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race series, where a version of the Elantra N competes. It feels a bit backwards that America is only just now getting this trim, seeing as how this race series happens in… America. But it’s here now, so I won’t do any more complaining.
The wing is a pretty serious piece, made from carbon fiber and held up via carbon swan-neck uprights, so that the underside of the piece can stay as smooth as possible (it’s the underside of the wing that does most of the work, which is why pretty much all race cars these days have swan-neck uprights). Hyundai doesn’t mention anything about actual downforce, though, considering the height and size, I have to imagine there’s at least some getting to the pavement. The wing is adjustable, too, in case you want to play around with balance at your next track day.
The TCR has some other upgrades as well, the most important of which is a set of bigger brakes. On the normal Elantra N, you have to make due with sliding single-piston calipers up front, but here, you get a set of much larger monoblock four-piston units with two-piece rotors. The calipers are physically larger than the outgoing equipment, which means Hyundai’s also given the TCR Edition a set of new 19-inch forged alloy wheels so they can clear.
There are a bunch of changes inside, too. There’s Alcantara on the steering wheel, the shift boot, the handbrake lever, and the center armrest. You’ll find blue accents on the wheel and the front seat belts.
What hasn’t changed is the powertrain. You still get a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-pot making 286 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque, connected to the front wheels via your choice of six-speed manual or eight-speed dual-clutch automatic (having driven both in the normal Elantra N, you can’t go wrong with either).
Hyundai has yet to release pricing for the TCR Edition, but when it was released in Canada, the car carried a price of $50,158 Canadian, which was about 17% more expensive than the normal Elantra N. Going by that same math, the TCR should cost around $42,634, or $6,289 more than the normal N in the United States. That’s just an estimate; Hyundai could sell it for more or less, depending on a variety of factors.
Top graphic image: Hyundai
It’s so weird to me that I LOVED this color scheme on the Veloster N and just can’t get behind it on any of the Ns they’ve released since
Now close your eyes and imagine for a second that instead of this ridiculous cubist bodywork this thing came clad in ioniq6 panels… post facelift. Ahhhhhhhhhh <3
I mean, ugly wheels and ugly spoiler. But I still think it’s awesome they’re selling it. The package is legitimately good, forged wheels and big brakes.
I mean, you can get a similar wing from Alibaba and 3M it on like most of the high school kids.
I like the car overall, but oof, that wing. I’ve driven the same S2000 on a track, before and after attaching a wing. The difference is very noticable, for sure. And I’m sure some Elantra N owners will take their cars on a track. The problem is that you have that ridiculous thing on the back of your car 99% of the time, you know, when you’re not on a track.
That’s going to impact your fuel economy, and possibly your rear tire life as well. But worst of all people will keep trying to race you, something I’ve learned after taking the aforementioned S2000 out on public roads.
They could offer a quick-disconnect wing option. Hit some latches up under the trunk and take the riceboy accessory off until the track day.
My car makes juvenile noises (bangs/pops) so I get that, but the Elantra in race mode just sounds like complete ass. Everytime I hear one go by making it’s obnoxiously loud pops, it does not sound in any way good, it sounds more like something is just broken. Make sure everyone looks (“pop!”) at the polarizing design of the Elantra. May as well throw a massive wing on it.
At least it’s actually pretty fast, so points for that.
I want to like the Elantra N, but styling is tacky. This is even worse. In fact, I don’t think I like the styling of any of the N vehicles.
Was behind an Elantra N yesterday. Even without this silly spoiler, they are cluttered with an assortment of cheap-looking plastic attachments. Nothing said quality, just cheap. Then I realized that’s all cars today. No styling substance.
I have to admit I was never a fan of the big wing on the back of the STI until someone called it a shopping cart handle, and for some strange reason I’ve loved it ever since.
SUPERBIRD!
They even got the color right.
Couldn’t they have just integrated a color matched roof-mounted spoiler or something? This is….too aftermarket.
r/shittycarmod from factory
reminds me when my 4 years old son puts his shoes on the wrong feet. I have an urge to take off and put back properly.
that story when manufacturer outdid the user in “shitty car mode” competition
As others have said, it looks bad™. I love a big, stupid wing, but it’s got to have some style to it. Maybe if it were body colored?
Are the N graphics an option cause they are cool.
Cool.
Is it removable?
(Asking for a friend.)
Everything is removable if you do not care about how well it looks afterwards.
A good yank with a tow strap ought to do the trick
One of these with a manual I would get into so much trouble, both legal and spousal.
The wing is just absurd. I’m sure there’s a subsection of buyers that are into that sort of thing, but dear god. It looks like an Autozone accessory. I appreciate that Hyundai doesn’t take the N cars super seriously and I daily drive their CUV that makes fart noises…but this is just too much even for me.
The issue is I legitimately don’t think anyone will know this is a special edition…and as a result they will just assume that you’re the type of person that would put a tacky wing on your car for fun. Do with that information what you will. That being said the brake upgrade is a welcomed addition. The stock brakes are the weak point of all the ICE N’s and having a little extra braking power will actually make a big difference both at the track and in traffic.
The brakes on my car feel fantastic and are excellent and steady when it comes to slowing you down from triple digit speeds but the lower speed stopping distances just aren’t what you’d expect out of a performance car in this day and age. That’s because Hyundai doesn’t give you name brand brakes, in order to build the Ns to their price point they just take regular brakes off their bigger vehicles.
Anyway, if you’re into this just get a regular Elantra N and upgrade the brakes yourself. Nothing else about this package is all that mind blowing and Hyundai dealerships will probably try to bend you over on one of these anyway…although I don’t think they have the brand cache to pull off how Honda dealerships treat the Type R, so who knows.
I was going to say that wing is tacky as hell and just makes this car look like as you said just slapped the AutoZone special wing. This reminds my of kids in highschool slapping spoilers onto their family sedan hand-me-downs normally was a Camry or accord.
My thought as well about the wing design. I’m all for big wing, but STI and Evos, or going back further, Charger Daytona, none of them reminded me of aftermarket auto parts store bits. This one, unfortunately, very much does. It doesn’t look factory and that makes it look too silly and cheap.
Unfortunately many factory style wings are upforce generating devices. I’ve followed a random Pontiac and an Eclipse with the mount broken on one side and as the car picked up speed the wing would lift up about 3″ from where it should be attached.
Can i sit on this at a cars and coffee? It works on a plymouth.