IT’S official. Hyundai is set to play in the high performance car market, following the reveal of the i30 N, a super hot hatch powered by a 202kW 2.0-litre T-GDI turbo 4-cylinder engine.
The first of what is expected to be a number of N models, the i30 N features electronic suspension and limited slip differential, rev matching, launch control, high performance tyres, a built in lap timer and wicked sound, thanks to a variable exhaust valve system.
Based on the new i30 model Hyundai has just released, there are also plenty of design changes over the standard variant, including aggressive front and rear bumpers with larger air intakes and red character lines, aerodynamic rear spoiler with triangular brake light, dual muffler exhaust, 18-inch and 19-inch wheel options, and sport seats.
Customisation will be at the heart of the i30 N, with five different drive modes, including N and N Custom, with configurations aimed at everything from daily commuting to getting on the race track.
“The Hyundai i30 N has been developed for no other purpose than to deliver maximum driving fun to our customers in an accessible high-performance package,” says Albert Biermann, Executive Vice President Performance Development and High Performance Vehicle Division.
“With the high-performance N models we will enhance our brand’s appeal with emotional products that cater to the needs of people who love to have a smile on their face when they drive their car on a winding road and listen to the sound of the engine.”
Pumping out 353Nm of torque, and built to corner, the front-wheel-drive i30 N will feature a six-speed manual transmission, a rack-mounted motor driven power steering system and adjustable dampers.
Designed to be an everyday sports car, the new i30 N underwent significant durability and racetrack performance testing to ensure it could be used for track days by owners, including 10,000km of driving on the Nordschleife at the Nürburgring and twice participating in the ADAC 24-hours race.
The 2018 Hyundai i30 N is expected to be released in Australia in late 2017 or early 2018.
