By now you'll be more than familiar with the giant-killing Hyundai i30 N. It's a popping, banging, laugh machine that in one attempt leaped from obscurity to being one of the hot hatch sector's most popular entrants.
Last month's price reveal also pitches it as one of the cheapest, with a RRP of $54,990 for the relatively well spec'd 'Performance' model that's heading to New Zealand (the first of the country's i30 N production models were spotted at CRC Speedshow last weekend).
And, it could soon have a buddy.
Under the camouflage is the Hyundai i30 Fastback N. It's a five-door coupe alternative to the standard car's hatchback dimensions, but powered by the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine (which spits out 202kW and 354Nm in its New Zealand format).
While the i30 has been sold in New Zealand for years now purely as a hatchback, the Fastback variant was introduced in places like Europe earlier this year. In regular form, it's a svelte looking twist on the compact sedan, and expect more of the same with the N model when it's revealed to the world later this year.
While the i30 N is the only model currently confirmed for New Zealand, Driven has reached out to Hyundai New Zealand for comment on whether the Fastback N will be offered here as well.
On the surface, you'd expect it not to be given that the standard i30 Fastback isn't sold here. But, it's already been confirmed that the Fastback N will be sold over the ditch to our mates in Australia (who also never got the standard Fastback).
So, never say never. We'll keep you posted.
