New Hyundai i30 N Teaser Video Released

Hyundai are set to roll out the new i30N hot hatchback, the first performance model from the Koreans, and they have put out a teaser video that shows a prototype being put through its paces.

The first car to come from the N performance sub-brand will be made available in two different versions, with “standard” and “performance pack” variants offered up to the buying public.

The i30 N launch date is expected to be late in 2017.

The man in charge of the development of the Hyundai i30 hot hatchback, Albert Biermann, was recently on hand at the Nurburgring test track, where Hyundai has 3 cars entered in an upcoming 24-hour race.

He spoke about the vehicle while there, talking specifically about what they hoped to achieve in terms of performance and drivability. The 2.0-liter turbo engine, which the video teased at producing 260 horsepower, was a big part of the conversation.

As well as the engine, Biermann made it clear that the i30N will have several upgrades over the standard model, such as better steering, stiffer engine and transmission mounts to help with the loads delivered in cornering and braking, and a gearshift that is quite a bit more pronounced. He said that the goal is to deliver extra power and a fun ride, as opposed to making it the fastest or most powerful in the segment.

i30 N 6-speed manual transmission

When the car arrives on market, it will only come with a 6-speed manual transmission, although an automatic is said to be in the works.

No pricing has been announced as of yet, but Biermann believes that while the price will be higher than the standard i30, it will still be less than other hot hatches made by the competition.

Europe will be where it lands first, but the other major markets, such as the US and China, will be taking delivery as soon as possible.

Hyundai i30 N AWD?

The cars in the N category will not be featuring AWD or hybrid technology in the near future, but Biermann did say they are looking at several options in both of those categories, but that Hyundai would only pull the trigger if they felt it was a move that would be of benefit to the consumer.

There is a lot of work being done with the N brand vehicles, and many of the handling and driving improvements made there will be carried over to other models in the Hyundai line-up.

That includes those in the Genesis luxury sub-brand, which is expected to get its own performance model sometime in the not too distant future.

There has also been talk of a standalone “halo car” for the N brand, and while Biermann admitted as much, he also said that there was no guarantee that such a vehicle would ever see the light of day.