Hyundai launched its N performance division back in December 2013 and now the head of the brand, Albert Biermann, has confirmed that the i30 N will launch in international markets in 2017 as the first 'N' badged road car.
Pictures of a modified Hyundai i30 test car with performance tweaks had surfaced on the web earlier last year, but this is the first confirmation received for a road-going N performance car.
Based on the next-generation i30, the new car will get a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine. The engine is based on an existing Hyundai powerplant, but has been specifically tuned for improved performance and is expected to produce over 262.59hp. However, this has not been confirmed by the carmaker. But Biermann did suggest that the car could have a top speed of around 249.44kph.
High-performance upgrades over the standard i30 include an electronically adjusted limited-slip differential, increased brake performance and a tweaked gearbox, as well as a reworked exhaust.
Also to be offered on the i30N is a track-focused performance package which will further boost engine performance. The front-wheel-drive i30 N will only be available with a manual gearbox at launch. However, a version equipped with an automatic transmission is expected to be launched in international markets in 2018. Biermann added that an all-wheel-drive version could be possible in the future as well.
Hyundai had also entered a development version of the i30 N, badged Hyundai i30 2.0T, in the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race to test components that will eventually make it to the production car. Compared to a standard i30, around 40 percent of the development i30 Turbo is new. The car also gets enhanced suspension, dampers, in addition to upgrades such as different wheels, tweaked steering, wider bumpers and mandatory motorsport safety features.
Additionally, Biermann has also confirmed that Genesis, Hyundai's luxury standalone sister brand, will get high-performance variants. He said, "We will go into different markets and regions with N. We will also develop high-performance cars for the Genesis brand but they won't have the N badge. N is just the sub-label for Hyundai cars."
The standard i30 was shown at Auto Expo 2016 earlier this year. When launched, the i30 N will rival the likes of performance hatchbacks such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Ford Focus ST.
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