Meet the real deal in Hyundai’s updated i30 N hot hatch. The Korean brand claims the car has been enhanced with a focus on performance, and it all starts with the available N DCT gearbox. Other novelties include new 19-inch alloy wheels and N Light Seats, allowing for additional weight reduction and in turn, better handling. Naturally, the carmaker also gave the i30 N better active safety and connectivity tech. Just like before, you can get your i30 N in both hatchback as well as fastback body styles.

Visually, the i30 N now features the N logo integrated onto the wheel caps, new LED headlights with V-shaped DRLs, new outer bumper corners and an updated rear end design with new LED signature lighting and a lower diffuser (just for the hatchback version though). Buyers can choose between seven exterior colors in Performance Blue (exclusive to Hyundai N models), Polar White, Engine Red, Sunset Red, Shadow Grey, Dark Knight and Phantom Black. You get 18-inch alloy wheels as standard, or 19-inch ones if you opt for the Performance Package.

 

Inside, you get a heated steering wheel and heated front seats, as well as new seat belts with Performance Blue accents. Also new are the optional N Light Seats, 2.2 kg lighter than the standard ones. They’re made from premium leather and Alcantara, and feature an illuminated N logo on the headrest. Meanwhile, the 10.25-inch touchscreen sat-nav system boasts Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and is available with the latest version of Bluelink.

Powering the 2021 Hyundai i30 N is a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, mated to either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed dual clutch automatic (N DCT). As standard, the i30 N with the 6-speed manual delivers 250 PS and 353 Nm of torque, although the Performance Package takes the power up to 280 PS, to go with 392 Nm of torque. Compared to the previous model, the new i30 N with the Performance Pack will hit 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds – a 0.2 second improvement.

 

The new N DCT gearbox allows the driver to select three new N performance functions: N Grin Shift, N Power Shift and N Track Sense Shift. The first increases torque by allowing turbocharger overboost and maximizes transmission response for 20 seconds, while N Power Shift kicks in when the car accelerates with more than 90% throttle. As for N Track Sense Shift, it automatically recognizes when the road conditions are optimal for dynamic driving, selecting the right and shift timing. 

Hyundai has given the i30 N its latest SmartSense tech, where for example, the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist has been upgraded to include pedestrian detection. Furthermore, the hatchback variant with the N DCT gearbox now comes with the option of Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance, as well as Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist. The facelifted Hyundai i30 N will go on sale in Europe starting in early 2021, with pricing to be announced at a later date.