Hyundai has dropped the first official photos and
information on the all-new i30 Fastback N five-door performance model ahead of
its Paris Auto Show debut. Hyundai N’s third model was unveiled as
part of a race from Rome to Paris. There was a catch, though: the race was
between two Danish villages called Rome and Paris, not Italy’s and France’s
capital cities. Driven by Gabriele Tarquini, the winning i30 Fastback N needed
8 minutes and 18.49 seconds to cover the distance between the two villages.
You should know it grafts the same
mechanicals of the i30 N hatchback onto the i30 Fastback body style. That means
the engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 250 PS in standard guise and 275 PS in optional Performance guise.
In both cases, the engine delivers 353 Nm of torque. However, the overboost function further increases peak torque
to 378 Nm. The function activates automatically when reaching the
maximum torque. The standard model needs 6.4 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h, while the i30 Fastback N Performance Package covers the same sprint
in 6.1 seconds.
As with the i30 N, the Fastback version is equipped
with the N Grin Control system that allows drivers to choose from five
different drive modes. Using dedicated buttons on the steering wheel, the
driver can select between Eco, Normal, Sport, N and N Custom driving modes. If
you’re interested in trivial details like fuel economy, you should know the
standard i30 Fastback N delivers a claimed average fuel consumption of 7 l/100
km (159 g/km CO2), while the Performance Package is rated at 7.1 l/100 km (163
g/km CO2).
Styling-wise, it looks very similar to the i30 N —
except the rear end, obviously. The i30 Fastback N gets the same hallmark
styling elements that include the N Grille and N front bumper, black side
sills, and red character lines at the bottom of both bumpers. The rear end is
unique to the i30 Fastback N and features a dual twin muffler exhaust, a rear
diffuser, and a gloss black-accented spoiler integrated into the tailgate.
Looking inside, it’s exactly what you expected
if you’re familiar with the i30 N hatch. The red accents on the air vents and
red stitching on the N steering wheel, gearshift, and seats are unique to the
i30 Fastback N, though. Practicality-wise, the N-badged model offers identical
specs with the stock i30 Fastback. The standard luggage capacity is 450 liters,
and it can extend to 1,351 liters when the rear seats are folded flat.
The i30 Fastback N offers the choice of two
infotainment systems: the 8-inch Display Audio interface with integrated
rear-view camera and Bluetooth connectivity or the 8-inch navigation system.
Both offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration and a specific N mode
screen with customizable settings for the engine, Rev matching, exhaust sound,
and Performance Package settings.
Safety-wise, the i30 Fastback N comes with the
Hyundai SmartSense pack of active safety and driving assistance technologies
that include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Lane
Keeping Assist, and High Beam Assist as standard. Intelligent Speed Limit
Warning is optional.