Latest Hyundai i30N looks comfortable on-track
NEW CAR FOCUS: HYUNDAI i30N SOUTH KOREAN CARMAKER ACHIEVES ‘GRIN FACTOR’ WITH BACK-TO-BASICS APPROACH WITH ELECTRIFICATION BEING THE CURRENT TREND IN NEW CARS, IAIN ROBERTSON REJOICES THAT CONVENTIONAL BUT WELL-EXECUTED TECHNOLOGY IS STILL RELEVANT, ESPECIALLY TO SATISFY THE ENTHUSIAST ON A BUDGET
In summary The i30N is Hyundai’s Focus RS, with much of its development programme arising from Hyundai’s world motorsport activities, with the i20 in World Rally Championship (WRC) and the i30 models in touring car racing. Adding an ‘N’ suffix to its zestiest models is not just because Hyundai operates an R&D centre at Germany’s Nürburgring Racing Circuit but that the birthplace of ALL Hyundai models is Namyang, South Korea.
The model development was carried out entirely in-house by Hyundai Motor Group’s HPV (High Performance Vehicle) team. Under the control of Albert Biermann and working with Hyundai Motorsports (HMSG), the i30N was created after the development of the WRC cars. In 2016 and 2017, i30N prototypes were entered into the Nürburgring 24 hours Race to test its production powertrain under endurance race conditions. There were no breakdowns.
Traditional recipe Apart from the use of an AGM battery for the stop:start facility, the i30N relies on no additional electrification and is an entirely mechanically-conventional petrol-turbo performance car. Its transversely mounted, direct-injection, 4-cylinders, 1,998cc engine develops a competitive 277bhp @ 5,200rpm, with 289lbs ft of torque available between 1,950 and 4,600rpm. Driving the front wheels, it scorches from 0-60mph in 5.6s to a maximum speed of 155mph.
NEW CAR FOCUS
Model clarity While the stock i30 is available in 5-door hatch (4.3m long), 4-door saloon (4.45m long) and 5-door Tourer (4.58m long) forms, the N version is not available as a estate car. The first generation in 2018 was known as the Hyundai i30 2.0T GDi 275 N Performance; the latest 2021 version is badged less tonguetwistingly as i30N. Superb dynamics are an i30N feature
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