2018 Hyundai I30 N Series Hot Hatch Revealed

The hotly awaited and much teased Hyundai I30 N hot hatch has finally been revealed by Hyundai, under its new 'N' sub-brand which will produce the company’s high-performance products.

Based on the latest generation i30, the i30 N which was inspired by the RN30 Concept previewed at the 2016 Paris Autoshow, developed from the ground up to be hot-hatch capable of baiting established rivals such as the VW Golf GTI and Renault Megane RS.

The ‘N’ brand stands for Namyang, Hyundai Motor’s global R&D Centre in Korea and Nürburgring, home of Hyundai’s Testing Center where all N cars will be honed. The i30 N applies all of Hyundai Motorsport’s experience in the World Rally Championship since 2014.

The Hyundai I30 N measures 4335mm in length, 1795mm in overall width and 1451mm in height. The wheelbase stretched 2650mm – the I30 N is some 35mm longer than a (Mk 7) Golf GTI but near identical in height and width. The GTI’s wheelbase is a tad shorter at 2637mm.

The I30 N is powered by a 2.0-litre direct-injected and turbocharged engine which delivers 250 PS and 353 Nm torque between 1,450rpm and 4,700rpm. An optional Performance Package ups the power to 275 PS. Power is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission.

The I30 N is tipped to complete the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.4 seconds (6.1 secs with the Performance Pack), all the way to a 250km/h top speed.

Hyundai has also developed a ‘rev matching’ function supports smooth gear shifting, and an ‘overboost’ function – increases torque by 8% and acceleration 6-7%.

Another highlight feature of the I30 N is the 'Launch Control' function which modulates engine torque when accelerating from standstill for racecar-like starts. The function is offered when in 'N' drive mode, with the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) turned off.

The I30 N is steered using an electric power steering and works in combination with the Electronic Controlled Suspension (ECS) which is claimed to reduce body roll and enhance overall stability. The system uses a solenoid valve within the absorber to control the damping force.

An Electronic Limited Slip Differential (E-LSD) further ensures better grip. For the track day goers, the I30 N even allows the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) to be switched off completely.

The i30 N’s is offered with 18-inch Michelin or specially designed 19-inch Pirelli high-performance Hyundai N tyres.

The cockpit of the i30 N will display key performance parameters through the newly designed instrument cluster. Another 8-inch free-floating screen offers modes such as the G-Force meter and lap timer.

The steering wheel is finished with the 'N' blue stitching and garnished with an 'N' logo at the bottom. The gear shift also features a unique blue stripe as part of the coherent color design. On top, the ball-type gear knob bears the N-badge.

The i30 N features bucket-type sport seats with lumbar support, extendable seat cushions also feature for better thigh support. Customers can choose from a combination of suede and leather or cloth finishes, both versions will feature a stamped ‘N’ logo on the back rest.

The i30 N will be produced at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech in Nošovice, Czechoslovakia. Official launch dates are yet to be announced but the I30 N’s European market launch dates are likely to be late 2018, with introductions in the North America markets to follow soon after.