Hyundai has surprised hot hatch fans with a cheaper-than-expected entry price for the high-performance i30 N turbocharged hatchback, arriving in Australia in April.
The car will be offered locally in its highest state of tune, the 202kW/353Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder. This means that the 184kW version offered elsewhere will not be coming to Australia, giving the i30 N a significant power advantage over its rivals.
Starting from $39,990, the i30N undercuts the equivalent five-door Volkswagen Golf GTI by $2000, which has only 169kW. To achieve similar power you’d have to opt for the $49,990 Golf R, which has 213kW and 380Nm.
Arriving mid-April, the i30 N features a limited-slip differential, bi-modal exhaust and an available luxury pack which includes parking assist, smart key and start button, wireless phone charging, rear privacy glass, 12-way power front seats with driver’s side memory, extendable front cushion for passenger seats and an optional panoramic glass sunroof.
The Hyundai i30 N has been developed on the Nurburgring race track with former head of BMW’s M division, Albert Biermann leading the charge. He said:
“The Hyundai i30 N has been developed for no other purpose than to deliver maximum driving fun to our customers in an accessible high-performance package. With the high-performance N models we will enhance our brand’s appeal with emotional products that cater to the needs of people who love to have a smile on their face when they drive their car on a winding road and listen to the sound of the engine.”
PerformanceDrive will be at the official media launch event in March, and we will be providing a full review and track test as soon as the embargo is lifted on March 29. Stay tuned.
