It’s more than a feeling. This car is fast, with a 2-litre, 202 kW turbocharged engine. But the handling around fast corners left me astounded and wanting more. The dual muffler exhaust sounds add to the pleasure of commanding a true high-performance vehicle.
Hyundai’s first mass-produced high-performance car has finally arrived in South Africa and judging purely from the media attention, it’s going to be a hit amongst race enthusiasts.
Hyundai’s i30N performance hatchback has been developed on three “cornerstones”: Cornering, Race-track Capability and Everyday Sports Car. Advanced technology and a high level of driver customisation has been built into the i30N, which means it can play the role of a comfort-oriented commuter as well as a race-track ready performance car.
What does the ‘N’ stand for?
The ‘N’ stands for Namyang, Hyundai Motor’s Global Research and Development Centre in South Korea, and for the world-famous Nürburgring motor racing complex in Germany, home to Hyundai’s European Test Centre where the manufacturer’s models built on the European continent are developed and tested.
The i30N underwent 10,000km of driving to test its durability.
The ‘N’ symbol also has another meaning that speaks to the car’s track credentials. The letter is a depiction of a race chicane and represents the i30N’s philosophy of translating the joy of negotiating winding motorsport tracks, to the fun of everyday road driving.
To be quite honest, I was not too sure what to expect when I first got into the cockpit on the racetrack. I hit the throttle and shifted through the gears. The i30N’s rev-matching function supported smooth gear shifting, while the over-boost function increases torque and acceleration. Corners come very quickly on track and the braking slowed the car down very quickly, leaving you ample time to hit the throttle again and out of the corner. Again....more than a feeling.
That exhilarating feeling is enhanced by the car’s sound from the dual muffler exhaust featuring the variable exhaust valve system, and the cockpit of the i30N shows key performance parameters through the new instrument cluster and the 8-inch free-floating screen’s modes such as the G-Force meter for live tracking of performance.
Those feelings and emotions are even more intense in the i30N, which is equipped with a Performance Package that – apart from the other N-features – include the high-output 202 kW turbocharged engine, an Electronically Controlled Limited Slip Differential, a variable exhaust valve system and 19-inch alloy wheels with Pirelli P-Zero performance tyres.
Facts and features
The i30N takes true race capability to every-day driving. I literally threw the car around the corners at the racetrack and it responded with aplomb. Put pedal to the metal and just watch how quickly the i30N reached top speed. Everything from bumper to bumper screams ‘high performance’. Add to this it’s aesthetically good looks and you have a winner.
Hyundai is finally bringing its successes from motorsport to everyday life.
Price
The Hyundai i30N goes on sale at a suggested retail price of R679,900, which includes a 7-year/200,000km warranty, roadside assistance for 7-years or 150,000km, and 5-year/75,000km service plan. Service intervals are 15,000km or once a year.
