... and doesn't it look great.
Hyundai have whipped the covers off their new (and first) hot hatch overnight — the i30 N. And it's ready to take on the might of a mightily competitive segment.
For many the styling will strike a sweet spot between the tame and the insane. It certainly looks more dishy than the standard i30, what with its deep front spoiler and its ensemble of vents and portals, not to mention the performance seats, steering wheel, and N-brand garnishes everywhere inside. But there's more restraint here than on other hot hatches — which provides a clue as to Hyundai's motives with this car.
Instead of chasing down the big Nurburgring times or big acceleration figures, Hyundai have emphasised from the outset that the i30 N is all about fun. This is something Driven can vouch for, having been treated to a cheeky test of a pre-production i30 N last month in Seoul.
As such, the power and acceleration figures — while still impressive — aren't exactly world beaters. Hyundai have confirmed that they'll be making two variants of the i30 N; the tame one packs 183kW and goes from 0–100 in 6.4 seconds, while the performance pack variant has 202kW and hits 100km/h in 6.1 seconds.
The 202kW of the performance variant stacks up competitively with numerous rivals, and beats the 169kW Golf GTI and 184kW Ford Focus ST. But it falls well short of the top tier Civic Type R and Golf R.
Drivers will have five driving modes to choose from, and this is where Hyundai will showcase their new adaptive suspension and rev-matching features. Eco, Normal, Sport, N, and N Custom are the options, each of which will serve the pilot with a different suspension, engine characteristic, steering, and sound set-up to fit the occasion.
As well as a superior time in the 0–100 sprint, the performance pack will also come with larger 19-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero rubber, a more comprehensive brake package, an electronic limited-slip diff, and more adjustment for the i30 N's sound.
The Hyundai i30 N is set to hit New Zealand before the end of the year (pricing to be confirmed), and we can't wait.
