There are some myths surrounding the upcoming Hyundai i30 N, and one of them states that despite being bred and born on the Nurburgring, it won’t attempt to break the track’s front-wheel drive record for production cars.
Instead, the Koreans will focus on improving the driving experience rather than its performance, as the company’s UK CEO, Tony Whitehorn, told Autocar.
“It’s got to be a halo vehicle. Our brand has moved from being a budget brand to a mainstream one. What we now need to do is add personality. N is the brand to do it with, and now is the right time to do it.“
Previewed by the RN30 study shown this year in Paris, the new Hyundai i30 N will go up against the Volkswagen Golf GTI and the Ford Focus ST, among others, with approximately 260 horsepower fed by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine to the front axle, through a six-speed manual transmission.
The lineup will eventually expand with the addition of a more hardcore variant, with all-wheel drive, which will add the Plus suffix, pitted against the Ford Focus RS. A series of aerodynamic tweaks will help set both models apart from lesser hatchbacks made by Hyundai, along with larger wheels, dual tailpipes and modded interiors.
Note: Hyundai RN30 Concept pictured
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