2018 Hyundai i30 N

Hyundai have entered the hot hatch game with the debut of the very first car to brandish the new N badge, Hyundai’s performance brand. The car of choice is the i30, the humble mainstream hatch back that is now poised to take on the likes of Volkswagens Golf GTI and it’s many rivals. The N stands for “honed at Nürburgring” indicating all Hyundai N cars will be extensively tested and tuned on the famous “green hell” race track.

Power comes in the form of a 2.0-liter T-GDI turbo that produces up to 272 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Drive is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission with optional electronic limited slip differential. Other goodies include launch control, stability control, adaptive suspension, variable exhaust valve, a lap timer and sports seats.

The i30 N differentiates itself from the regular i30 with more aggressive front and rear bumpers with larger air intakes, honeycomb grille and red character line. Bigger brakes and 19-inch wheels are also present with Pirelli P-Zero performance tires fitted to further enhance its performance credentials. On the rear a big spoiler is added along with dual exhaust tips and the continuation of the red line.

“The Hyundai i30 N has been developed for no other purpose than to deliver maximum driving fun to our customers in an accessible high-performance package,” says Albert Biermann, Executive Vice President Performance Development and High Performance Vehicle Division. “With the high-performance N models we will enhance our brand’s appeal with emotional products that cater to the needs of people who love to have a smile on their face when they drive their car on a winding road and listen to the sound of the engine. That’s why we measure high-performance in BPM, heart beats per minute instead of only RPM.”