Hyundai Elantra N Monochrome Dials Back the Looks, Not The Performance

Hyundai is giving its hi-po compact sedan a stealthier personality with the new Elantra N Monochrome, a special edition that trades some of the standard car’s visual drama for a cleaner, more understated look. The good news for driving enthusiasts is that the makeover doesn’t appear to come at the expense of performance, and for those of us who prefer a more understated look, it upholds the styling we want from a sporty, daily-driver sedan.

The Elantra N Monochrome edition tones down the red accents and aggression that the "normal" car has in exchange for the paint options of Abyss Black Pearl or Performance Blue. Dark-finished forged wheels and revised exterior trim help create a more cohesive appearance. The upper trim adds carbon-fiber mirror caps and a rear spoiler, giving the sedan a few extra performance-inspired touches without turning its styling up another notch.

The changes continue inside, where Alcantara surfaces and a special steering wheel with black-finished buttons replace some of the standard car’s brighter details. Blue stitching and matching digital-display graphics provide a little contrast without disrupting the darker cabin theme.

Underneath, the Elantra N Monochrome retains the standard model’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which produces 276 horsepower. Transmission include a six-speed manual and an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic, although Hyundai has not announced mechanical changes.

The special edition launches in South Korea first, with Canada and Australia also confirmed. A U.S. arrival remains uncertain, and pricing has yet to be announced. With the standard Elantra N starting at $35,300, a modest premium would still leave it competing in an appealing performance-car price bracket.\

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