Hyundai Elantra N: Good as is, great with minor mo...

Which Elantra to Purchase?

Photograph courtesy Hyundai.

No query it’s the N. For a bit greater than $5000, it’s much more automotive than the subsequent highest trim of Elantra, the N Line.

“Once you look below the automotive and begin seeing the engineering, you see there was an engineer who did this to go race,” Josh says. “It wasn’t to create an equipment. Boxed management arms, the axle and hub mixed into one unit, boxed entrance subframe, revamped rear suspension meeting–they made this observe succesful.”

Plus, the N has the extra highly effective turbocharged engine (75 extra horses). It has a alternative between an eight-speed DCT or six-speed guide somewhat than only a seven-speed DCT. The N additionally comes with larger brakes. And, maybe the most-often ignored half, you possibly can solely get the eLSD with the N.

“The differential–it’s what makes this factor actually quick,” Will says. “Usually to have the sort of grip with a front-wheel drive automotive you might want to spend some huge cash and have some setup information.”

The eLSD requires some completely different driving ways, although, than you’d sometimes take with a front-wheel-drive automotive.

“To drive these quick, you wish to drive them free,” Will provides. “With numerous front-wheel-drive individuals who have at all times been in front-wheel drives, typically, if it begins to get sideways, they raise. However, on this factor, you wish to keep in it as a result of the diff is so good it’ll pull you out of it.”

Josh says the one weak spots to the Elantra N is with fueling, specifically the gas pump and injectors (extra on that later). Aside from that, the Elantra N is a sturdy platform, with little mechanical adjustments since its debut in 2021 and a facelift beginning with the 2024 fashions.

“These automobiles maintain up very well and should not that outdated, so there isn’t any draw back to purchasing a used one,” Josh says. “You may’t actually lose with these automobiles. Hyundai nailed it with these.”

There’s additionally the guarantee. Bumper to bumper for five years or 60,000 miles. The powertrain is assured for 10 years or 100,000 miles. 5 years of roadside help comes included. So long as you don’t do any main mods to void that guarantee, Hyundai backs up their autos.

First-Spherical Mods

Photograph by J.A. Ackley.

Michael, Josh and Will all insist that it is best to simply take your Hyundai Elantra N to the observe and drive it. They are saying you’ll have enjoyable and it’s track-ready as is. After that, then take into account some mods. In comparison with a lot of at present’s automobiles, the Elantra N isn’t grossly heavy, but it surely might stand to lose some weight. The guide model weighs 3186 kilos whereas the DCT pushes the scales at 3296.

“What I’d do, particularly to maintain your automotive’s guarantee, is to take a bit little bit of weight off the automotive the place it is smart,” Michael advises. “That will probably be wheels and tires.”

The Elantra comes with 19×8-inch wheels. Michael initially dropped down 18×8.5-inch wheels throughout. It’s a big weight financial savings, from 27.5 (facelift) to 30 (unique) kilos apiece to as little as 16 kilos per every aftermarket wheel. Instances that by 4, and that’s 46 to 56 kilos. The opposite key profit is the 18-inch wheels have extra tire fitments accessible, and people tires are inexpensive.

So far as tires, you possibly can up the dimensions to 265s with out resorting to fender rolling or a physique package. Michael provides that because it’s a front-wheel drive automotive, he makes use of 255s within the rear to assist with turn-in.

As you get quicker, improve to a performance-oriented brake fluid and entrance brake pads, with Josh recommending Ferodo Racing DS3.12 or Porterfield R4-S pads.

“The braking coefficient on the inventory pads is definitely superb,” Michael says. “The one problem is in case you’re out doing a session for too lengthy, you’ll get some brake fade.”

Discover how they didn’t point out the rear pads.

“You don’t actually use the rear pads as a result of it’s front-wheel drive,” Michael provides. “You wish to preserve the brake bias towards the entrance. So, in different phrases, you need much less stick within the again.”

Moreover, stronger entrance pads assist with avoiding inopportune ABS intervention.

“There’s a phenomenon with these automobiles known as Ice Mode,” Josh says. “If in case you have an excessive amount of pad within the again, the again slows down quicker than the entrance and it triggers ABS and you’ve got a brick for a pedal.”

An improve to stainless-steel braided brake strains is value it, too. “The brake strains will assist with brake fade and a mushy pedal when brake fluid temps enhance,” Josh says. “OEM strains are likely to swell.”

Second-Spherical Mods

Photograph by Kim Bailey/Spark Creative Media.

Let’s now begin taking part in with suspension–and, most significantly, introduce the flexibility to regulate settings. Josh says off-the-shelf coil-over choices from firms equivalent to Korea-based Neotech get you within the ballpark of the place you might want to be to extract most efficiency. Coil-overs additionally open up the flexibility to regulate camber, the place Josh provides that the entrance likes about 3.3 to three.5 levels of camber, 2 to 4 levels of toe-in. Coil-overs additionally allow adjustments to journey top and preload, and they’re wanted to nook stability the automotive.

“You’ll spend most of your time engaged on the suspension,” Josh notes. “It’s vital to not skimp on this. Get good high quality that has nice assist if you’re severe about observe life.”

He strongly warns in opposition to low cost, poor-quality coil-overs.

“On these N automobiles, the OEM struts should not unhealthy,” Josh says. “In actual fact, they outperform many different producers’ OEM suspensions, such because the Civic Sort R. The N automobiles additionally include magnetic dampening activated with a push of the N Mode button, which immediately stiffens the suspension. Low-cost coil-overs have parts that fail, improper valving, incorrect spring charges and won’t be serviceable, making them worse than the inventory struts.”

Coil-overs do create one other problem, although: area in your wider tires. The staff now runs a staggered setup, with 18×9.5 inches up entrance and 18×8.5 inches again within the rear. “The explanation why we’re not squared  is as a result of as quickly as you place coil-overs within the again, there’s not sufficient room to place a wider tire with out us going vast physique,” Michael explains.

On the rear, set up camber arms and toe arms, with elements accessible from SPL. Josh says the Elantra likes shut to three levels of rear camber and little to none toe-in.

“The rear camber and toe bolts on these automobiles can fail in case you drive to the extent of Will,” Josh says. “Altering these will remove fail factors and will let you fine-tune rear settings.”

Lastly, swap out all these OEM rubber bushings for one thing extra trackable, equivalent to polyurethane or spherical bearings. They may enliven a automotive on observe, particularly an Elantra N that has 17 suspension bushings whole.

“OEM bushings are likely to fail and permit undesirable motion in suspension geometry throughout aggressive driving,” Josh says. “OEMs use rubber so as to add consolation for every day driving, however robs priceless lap time. Upgraded bushings additionally give a extra optimistic really feel. Your butt potentiometer will immediately discover the go-kart-like dealing with of this improve.”

One factor you shouldn’t change, in response to Josh, are the anti-roll bars, aka sway bars. Depart them inventory. “That is the place most will fail on setup with front-wheel-drive automobiles and is vital on these Ns,” Josh explains. “Upgrading entrance sway bars will enhance understeer, which you don’t want on a front-wheel drive. In most front-wheel drives, you need OEM entrance sway bars or fully take away them, and enhance the stiffness on a rear sway bar.

“With the N, it’s excellent from the manufacturing unit,” Josh continues. “Including a stiffer rear sway bar will increase oversteer a tad an excessive amount of for the common Joe. There’s numerous choice on this matter primarily based on driver. The OEM setup is ideal for 80% of drivers.”

Josh does advocate including adjustable finish hyperlinks. “You need zero preload on the sway bars, and you can’t obtain this with out finish hyperlinks,” Josh says. “Finish hyperlinks will will let you superb tune the preload on the bars, which impacts oversteer or understeer.”

Third-Spherical Mods Half I–Engine

Photograph by J.A. Ackley.

You bought dealing with nailed, now let’s discover some energy. The standard add-ons apply right here: consumption, exhaust, downpipe and a tune. With all that, you possibly can stand up to 450 horsepower–on the wheels–Josh says.

Many firms supply intakes for the Theta II engines in these automobiles, and Josh recommends going with a trusted model, equivalent to aFe, Injen or Ok&N. So far as the downpipe, Josh gives some recommendation. “There’s a false impression that you should have a cat-less,” he says. “Lately, high-flow downpipes with 200-cell, and even 100-cell, cats carry out the identical as cat-less, preserve you street-legal and preserve the CEL gentle off your sprint.”

With regard to exhaust, “Usually, I’d say stick to the two.5-inch exhaust,” Josh says. “Nonetheless, these automobiles love a 3-inch. You don’t have to spend prime greenback on a flowery titanium setup. Even a home-brewed muffler store utilizing 3-inch piping and a 14x4x4 muffler will internet comparable outcomes.”

Whilst you’re at it, Josh recommends switching to a completely mounted intercooler, to “assist circulation up entrance and permit higher cooling,” he says. “This prevents warmth soak and permits you to keep the ability you have got.”

Actually, different platforms supply extra tuning choices, equivalent to Hondas, however a couple of firms do supply off-the-shelf ECU tunes, equivalent to Xclusive Tuning out of Canada and Lozic (who’s well-known in Korea) out of California.

With all of the aforementioned engine mods, Michael’s Hyundai Elantra N places out 361 horsepower on the wheels, with out ever touching the turbo. Extra good points may be made with an aftermarket turbo, however Michael says that’s loads of energy for what they’ve proper now.

So far as sturdiness mods, Josh recommends spark plugs, a gas pump and injectors; Michael suggests coil parks. Josh says the GDI engine places a beating on the plugs and he solely makes use of HKS M45XL spark plugs. “With all of the added mods, you will want colder plugs,” he says. “HKS has been examined laborious in these automobiles.”

As we alluded to, the one Achilles’ heel for the Elantra N is fueling, specifically its OEM gas pump. Josh says there are some new kits on the market utilizing the BMW B58 gas pump as a repair for $750, however he has one other OEM answer for simply $450. “The gas pump doesn’t fail, however somewhat runs out of gas,” Josh says. “The best choice, with minimal points, is a high-pressure gas pump out of a Hyundai Sonata. The piston diameter within the pump is a tad bigger, serving to it produce extra quantity.”

Josh nonetheless makes use of the OEM injectors, however aftermarket variations exist, which he has began to check. He feels an improve is forthcoming because it helps with fueling the GDI engine.

Michael upgrades his OEM coil packs to these from MSD. OEM coil packs do fail every so often, however Josh feels they carry out about the identical as aftermarket ones.

Third-Spherical Mods–Weight, Brakes and Extra

Will Drees holds a carbon-fiber trunk lid he created that weighs simply 4 kilos. Photograph by J.A. Ackley.

Wheels and tires decreased a very good chunk of weight, however there’s extra you are able to do. That exhaust you simply upgraded might prevent as much as 50 kilos.

Every inventory entrance seat weighs 45 kilos, and aftermarket racing seats are a lot lighter and safer when mixed with racing harnesses.

Going with a lighter weight battery can reduce as much as 25 kilos.

Eradicating the rear seats can internet you 35 kilos.

Then you possibly can go along with carbon-fiber elements, such because the hood and trunk.

You may extract audio system, too, in case you don’t want them.

“Our Elantra N shed 290 kilos by eradicating rear seats, brackets, seat belts, passenger seat and a carbon-fiber trunk lid,” Josh says.

Once you do take away this many kilos, Josh gives a warning: “You have to to regulate suspension for the brand new weight. The spring charges won’t be ultimate for the automotive, particularly as laborious as we drive the automotive. We additionally needed to dial in the remainder of the suspension settings, equivalent to camber, toe and journey top.”

Another fast physique tweak. Take away the climate stripping between the highest of the engine bay and the windshield for higher cooling. “My engine and oil temps went down 8 levels by doing that,” Michael says, though he provides he by no means seen temps go above 270.

With extra energy and fewer weight, you’ll be going quicker and can want extra brakes. Many good choices exist, however Josh prefers the Neotech Evo six-piston calipers with the corporate’s two-piece rotors, in both a 355mm or 380mm dimension. The Neotech calipers additionally use a GT Mustang brake pad, opening up a big world of choices from varied pad producers. Moreover, Josh stands by Neotech a lot that his KDM Tuners gives a lifetime guarantee on the calipers. “Huge brake kits are an funding,” Josh admits, “however they are going to be one of many largest enhancements in lap instances and total driving expertise.”

Last Phrase

Driver Will Drees, KDM Tuners’ Josh Sadler and automotive proprietor Michael Dube. Photograph by J.A. Ackley.

Maybe, the largest factor you achieve with a Hyundai Elantra N isn’t essentially an enormous neighborhood, however a devoted group of Elantra N followers.

“The automotive may be very polarizing,” Michael says. “Most of the people both loves it or hates it, and there’s numerous hate on the market for the automotive. The N neighborhood, although, is superb.”

Need proof? When Gridlife dominated the staff’s rear seat delete as unlawful, they wanted alternative seats–and quick. The staff had the announcer ask the group for some rear seats. Somebody provided theirs from their avenue automotive within the car parking zone so Will, Michael and Josh might go race. That’s the form of assist you get with the Hyundai Elantra N.

“Simply carry your Elantra N and go to the observe,” Josh advocates. “You don’t want a bunch of stuff. Lots of people get caught up in, ‘I received to purchase this half first.’ Simply come to the observe. We wish to see extra Hyundai guys on the market.”