There's A New Generation Of Car Enthusiasts Out There, And They Drive Hyundais
That massive carbon fiber and adjustable rear wing was part of a series of recommendations from Hyundai's own touring car drivers. It improves high-speed stability, while a set of upgraded brakes and sticker tires helps endure longer, harder lap times. The TCR is serious stuff!
What I didn't expect, though, was the flashy N livery on my test car's flanks, part of a dealer-installed accessory. Call me old, but I've grown out of cars that scream 'look at me,' and the whole package here just felt way too overzealous for my taste. Anyway, it's my job to test out cars, so I gulped down my pride and took off in this bright blue, snortin' and fartin', big-winged hooligan. But it didn't take time for me to realize, from all the attention this car attracted, that the TCR is well-known in the Hyundai community. A community that's totally lit up.
To provide the most accurate and up-to-date information, this article uses data sourced from various trusted sources and the manufacturer, as well as the author's personal experience.
A Very Devoted Audience Hiding In Plain Sight
Experiencing The Hyundai N's Impact In
And I noticed that myself pretty fast. The more I drove around in the N TCR, the more I noticed how many Elantra Ns were on the road. And the first evening I hit the gym, I walked out of the building only to spot a fellow Elantra N owner parked next to the car, grabbing pictures and creating social media stories with it.
I walked up. "You like the car?" I asked. He immediately pulled away, telling me he couldn't believe he was actually seeing one on the road. "Aren't those super rare and limited production?" the visibly younger-than-me fellow replied.
Each Encounter Revealed Just How Hardcore Hyundai's N Fans Really Are
The more I drove the Elantra N TCR, the less I was worried about what people thought of me with that humongous wing, giant brakes, and equally ostentatious N livery. That's because I was actually receiving positive attention my way. Yes, people looked at it, but I was also getting a slew of positive thumbs from Honda, Subaru, and Toyota owners of modified hot compacts. And Hyundai owners.
But not just N owners, but regular models, too, like Accents and base-model Elantras. Reckless driving to impress me — something I never recommend doing — was also a common thing by some of these owners. That's also something I'm used to with this job, by the way. For some reason, some folks react oddly when they spot a car on the road that raises their pulse. Somehow, this Hyundai had that effect on some of them.
Grabbing Attention As A Supercar Would
Performance Hyundais Went From A Joke To The Hip Car On The Road
So, that's how much the automotive passion has shifted in the span of only a few decades. It also proves how Hyundai's efforts at attracting hardcore automotive enthusiasts with its N line has actually paid off. When I was growing out of the 1990s as a young adult buying my first car, Hyundais were honestly not on the radar of enthusiasts. Sure, the automaker had the Tiburon sports coupe, but it was never as polished or sorted out as, say, a Honda Prelude or a Toyota Celica.
Hyundai's Future As An Enthusiast Brand Looks Bright
Which is why Hyundai Canada isn't worried that the TCR Edition will end up sleeping in Canadian dealerships. Fred Mercier is confident that there's demand and hype for it, and the automaker could even increase the number of examples if it becomes a sales hit. Still no news on U.S. market penetration, by the way.
After dropping off the TCR at the press office following a full week with it, enjoying its tarmac-kissing performance the best I could on my favorite bits of asphalt, the Hyundai rep sent me a screenshot of the TCR parked at a nearby park I often like to go to wind down. The photo, or the "spotted", came from a fellow Veloster owner who had spotted it and felt the need to pull over and make a social media post about it. How many people are doing this with Honda Civics these days?
Source: Top Speed
