Hyundai i30 N hot hatch has entered a new
stage of final testing ahead of its global rollout late this year, including an
expected Australian launch in November. The Korean company entered its first
proper hot hatch – a rival for the Golf GTI, Civic Type R and Focus ST/RS – in
the VLN endurance race at the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany.
Hyundai wasn’t necessarily in it to win it. Instead,
it took the opportunity to test a car with technical specifications very close
to the final production version, against more modified production-car-based
enduro racers.
Engineers from its South Korea HQ and European
R&D centres will do final honing
based on lessons learned. Hyundai Motor’s head of vehicle test and high
performance development Albert Biermann – a former chief at BMW M – explained
the rationale.
The cars that Hyundai Motor entered in the race were
both equipped with the production 2.0-litre turbo engine and six-speed manual
gearbox. As they raced the car, Hyundai engineers identified areas of “further
refinement and potential performance enhancements” for the i30 N.
As we know, the i30 N will debut with two models: a
250 Hp model and a 275 Hp performance package variant. The car
will also debut Hyundai’s first ‘E-LSD’ system, an electronically-controlled
mechanical limited-slip front differential. The higher-output model will likely
be offered with a firmer suspension tune and a track oriented setup, as we
heard from Biermann last year. N models will feature unique front and rear
elements, along with a larger boot mounted spoiler and side skirts. Unique
wheels will round out the package.
The interior comes with upgraded seats that feature
extending bolsters and a new steering wheel that offers switchable drive modes.
N models appear to also get quad-exhaust pipes and a unique rear diffuser. It
appears that N models will initially launch with a six-speed manual
transmission only, to be followed by an eight-speed wet dual-clutch shifter
from 2019.
