We drove: Hyundai i30N - Korean road rocket
The Hyundai i30 N packs a lot of power as it puts itself alongside its competitors such as the Volkswagen, Golf GTI and R, Honda Civic Type R, or Renault Megane RS. And like many competitors, it is available in two versions with different levels, sporty immediacy or everyday civilization.
In any case, a two-liter turbo-petrol four-cylinder with direct petrol injection into the combustion chambers is hidden under the hood. The 2.0 T-GDI engine in both versions produces a maximum torque of 363 Nm - with the possibility of a temporary increase to 378 Nm per second - but there is a significant difference in power. The base version has a maximum output of 250 horsepower, while the more powerful Hyundai i30 N Performance delivers an extra 25 horsepower on the road and is generally more ready for the race track.
In addition to the individual shape and aerodynamics of the body in the characteristic blue color of the N section, the direct electromechanical steering wheel, the coordination of the engine sound with the speed and mode of travel, the exhaust system, which also cracks pleasantly in the most sporty environment, electronically adjustable shock absorbers, reinforced traction and transmission, Launch Control and other features, the more powerful i30 N gets even sharper sport brakes, 19-inch tires instead of 18-inch tires, and an electronic limited slip differential that allows the rider to take corners with ESP completely off. in the sports program itself.
There are five programs, and they are selected by two blue switches of the N section, which are conveniently mounted on the steering wheel. On the left, the driver can switch between modes that we also know from "normal" cars, ie Normal, Eco and Sport, and the switch on the right is for N and N Custom modes, in which the chassis, engine, exhaust ESP system and tachometer are adapted for sport ride. The driver can press an additional button to temporarily increase the engine speed when shifting from higher to lower gears so as not to lose torque.
Sportiness is highly desirable, but that's not the only role the Hyundai i30 N can play. A full range of infotainment devices are also available to the driver and passengers.
The Hyundai i30 N is just the first of a new line of sports cars that the Korean brand will be offering under the generic N label, announced in 2015 in Frankfurt with N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo and RM15 research, and to this day it has fully matured. One more thing about the letter N in the name: on the one hand, it stands for Hyundai's global development center in Namyang, Korea, where they develop vehicles, on the other hand, the Nürburgring race track, where cars are honed into athletes, and also symbolizes the chicane. at the hippodrome.
It is not yet known how much the Hyundai i30 will cost us, but it is known for sure that it will be delivered to us by the end of this year.
Text: Matija Janežić · Photo: Hyundai
