Hyundai has revealed details of their first performance car, the Hyundai i30 N, which is based on the new generation i30.
The ‘N’ logo is meant to represent a chicane to highlight the testing undertaken at the Nurburgring.
The i30 N was designed to master three driving elements: Corner Rascal, Everyday Sports Car and Race Track Capability.
Firstly the ‘Corner Rascal’ element reflects the car’s ability to maintain traction, precision and feeling through tough cornering manoeuvres. This is in part due to the 18-inch Michelin or 19-inch Pirelli high-performance tyres on the i30 N. The car also utilises rack-mounted motor-driven power steering for a precise drive.
Also assisting the cornering ability is the lowered body making it more rigid which is combined with Electronic Controlled Suspension (ECS) to reduce roll and therefore enhance cornering speed.
An aerodynamic design is meant to reduce lift force and keep the car firmly on the road and is supported by the Electronic Limited Slip Differential (E-LSD) which enhances grip as well.
The element of ‘Everyday Sports Car’ sees the car designed for the everyday commute as well as being race track ready. To achieve this the i30 N comes with five driving modes – Eco, Normal, Sport, N and N Custom – which are selected via two buttons on the steering wheel. Each mode changes the engine, dampers, Electronic Stability Control, E-LSD, sound, steering and rev matching to suit the driver’s desires.
The final element, ‘Race Track Capability’, as the title suggests, sees the car designed to withstand a race around the track.
In development stages, the i30 N underwent 10,000 km of track testing on the Nordschleife at the Nurburgring circuit for durability testing.
This resulted in the development of the brakes with extra cooling function through the air intakes on the front bumper to ensure they last. The car also features a strong clutch which is also designed with the track in mind, and the six-speed manual transmission has short travel to ensure fast shifting.
The i30 N is powered by a four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged engine available in two states of tune. The Standard Package delivers 184kW at 6000rpm and 353Nm of torque but if more power is required the Performance Package delivers 202 kW of power and 353Nm of torque.
As the i30 N is based on the new generation Hyundai i30 it is similar in appearance, however, it is between 4mm-8mm lower, depending on the wheels, and features the N signature on the red brake calliper as well as on the grille. At the back, a triangular third brake light has been added to the new black spoiler and there is also a double muffler exhaust to complete the sporty look.
On the inside, an exclusive ‘N’ steering wheel with blue stitching and the N logo is found which is complemented by the blue stripes and N-badge on the gear shift. There are also high-performance sport seats with lumbar support in suede and leather or cloth upholstery which sport the N logo on the back rest.
The i30 N will still come with all the bells and whistles such as 5.0-inch or optional 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and optional wireless induction charging pad.
In terms of safety, the i30 N will feature Autonomous Emergency Braking, Driver Attention Alert, Lane Keeping Assist system, Speed Limit Information Function and High Beam Assist.
Six colours are available on the i30 N with the standard being the exclusive Performance Blue. Also available is Clean Slate, Polar White, Micron Grey, Phantom Black and Engine Red.
The Hyundai i30 N should be launched across Europe by the end of this year but no official launch date has been confirmed for Australia.
Let’s start a Car Conversation, will the Hyundai i30 N be enough to rival the hot hatch offerings from Volkswagen, Ford and Honda?
