The Hyundai N Division did not exist 16 years ago, but if it did, we now have a pretty good idea of what it would have looked like. A television show in Quebec called Roulez au Suivant (Move Onto The Next) tackles unique car restoration projects, which are then given to people in need. You can think of it a bit like Canada’s version of Pimp My Ride, but without the built-in televisions and chocolate fountains.
Move Onto The Next partnered with Hyundai Canada to restore a 2008 Hyundai Elantra that had just surpassed one million kilometers (621,371.192 miles). You can watch the full restoration on YouTube, but be warned that the video is in French.
100 New Parts
It’s not easy to breathe new life into an economy car that has traveled enough miles to reach the moon and back. Hyundai Canada donated the vehicle to the show, along with a list of over 100 parts it would need for the restoration. Some of these parts were pretty major, including a brand-new engine block.
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“Although the original engine was still in excellent running condition with no faults, we wanted the engine block to be replaced as part of the overall theme of the restoration and provide a positive ownership experience for the new owner. Hyundai’s Quality Assurance division will receive the original engine for documentation of its remarkable longevity. Initial inspection of the cylinders and rotating assembly reveals it to be in very good condition. This documented vehicle is a testament to how far vehicles can go with regular maintenance.”
– Dan Dominato, National Manager of Aftersales at Hyundai Canada
Since the odometer stops at 999,999 km, the counter was reset to zero and the restoration team added a number “1” in front of it to signify how far the car traveled on its original engine. Most of the original mileage was accumulated by Mr. Jocelyn Roy, a delivery driver who purchased the Elantra with 30,000 kilometers on it back in 2011. This is now the highest mileage Hyundai recorded in Canada. Roy sold his Elantra back to the dealership in 2022 and purchased a Kona to replace it.
Adding Some N Flare
Such an extensive restoration deserves a hot new paint job, so the team opted for a light blue that pays homage to the “Performance Blue” found on vehicles like the Ioniq 5 N. Of course, the car also gets some new wheels, the iconic red skirt line, and some N logos with “Inspired” written below them. Though this Elantra does have a manual transmission, it’s still a far cry from the new Elantra N in terms of performance.
The restored Elantra was presented to 16-year-old Éloïc Lachance of Rougemont, Québe, who was chosen from hundreds of applicants after his mother and his brother submitted his name to the show. Mr. Roy handed off the keys to his former car at the same dealership where he purchased it more than 15 years ago. “I had a little tear in my eye,” said Roy. “I told him that if he is careful, he will do as many kilometers as I did.”
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