Hyundai La Festa N Line Debuts In China With Sharper Looks And A Turbo Engine

Hyundai has expanded the N Line range so much that almost every single model in its lineup gets an angrier-looking alter ego. The latest to join the trend is the Hyundai Lafesta, a China-only sedan slotting right in between the Elantra and the Sonata.

The highlight of the new Lafesta N Line is of course the new, more aggressive bodykit and prominent aero features, making it look like a full-blown Hyundai N model.

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The Lafesta N Line sports a new grille with hexagon-shaped LED DRLs and glossy black trim connecting it with the aggressive headlights. It also gets significantly larger bumper intakes, an aluminum-style insert, a splitter that expands to the sides, and a faux intake on the base of the bonnet.

In addition, there’s a set of two-tone alloy wheels with the N badge on the center caps, leaving the red brake calipers visible behind them. The model also gets side-sill extensions, a new rear bumper with faux outlets, a large decorative diffuser with quad exhaust pipes, plus a rather flamboyant rear wing mounted on the tailgate. Note that the Hyundai Lafesta N Line is only available in the pictured matte gray shade combined with gloss black accents.

The interior looks quite modern, featuring a digital cockpit with two 10.25-inch screens and a set of physical controls underneath, plus a redesigned center tunnel with a wireless charging pad and buttons instead of a traditional shifter. Those changes might be carried over to the rest of the Lafesta range in the near future as part of a mid-lifecycle update. Details that will most likely remain exclusive to the N Line are the N badge on the flat-bottom steering wheel, the red stitching on the seats, and the Sport driving mode.

As reported by Car News China, the latest member of the N Line range does not share its engine with the rest of the Lafesta range. Instead, it introduces a new turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder producing 197 hp (147 hp / 200 PS). Interestingly, the new engine is slightly less powerful than the older turbocharged 1.6-liter which produces 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS) that is found under the bonnet of the lesser Lafesta Luxury Sport.

Hyundai has yet to announce the detailed specs so we don’t know if the N Line will be quicker than the Luxury Sport, or if it gets a different tune for the suspension and steering wheel like N Line models from other markets.

The Lafesta N Line will be manufactured in China by the Beijing-Hyundai joint venture. Its market launch is expected next month and it will most likely remain a China-only affair like the lesser variants.