Hyundai says it will reveal the
i30 Fastback N on September 26 “on the road from Rome to Paris.” More
specifically, the automaker will have two of its best racing drivers compete
against each other in the i30 Fastback N between the two capital cities.
According to the press release, FIA TCR driver Gabriele
Tarquini and WRC ace Thierry Neuville will “will push the high-performance
coupe to its limits” as they will drive it from Rome to Paris to set a new
record.
There are no further details about this mysterious
race, but it should take place on closed roads if Hyundai really wants Tarquini
and Neuville to give the i30 Fastback N a proper shakedown. Nevertheless, we
don’t think it’s possible to close a congested 1,422-km route like
the one from Rome to Paris, so maybe Hyundai is thinking of a road trip rather
than a race.
Hyundai describes the i30 Fastback N as
“the first five-door hot coupe in the C segment.” The model is very likely to
use the same powertrain and chassis as the i30 N and Veloster N hatchbacks. Expect a 2.0-liter turbocharged
gasoline engine making either 250 PS or 275 PS, as well as a
high-performance chassis honed on the Nürburgring.
