We get plenty of opportunities to see the Hyundai i30 N testing, but the South Korean brand’s performance division gives us an earful of the upcoming hot hatch in a new video. If it comes to the road sounding like this, the model would have an angry bark to match its powerful bite.
In this brief clip, the i30 N’s exhaust pops and crackles like a rally car. It’s a crisp, staccato sound like a machine gun shooting out the back of the hot hatch. Wonderful noises like this could make the model an even more interesting challenger against the Ford Focus ST and Volkswagen Golf GTI.
The i30 N uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, and an earlier video shows it making at least 260 horsepower (194 kilowatts) and 228 pound-feet (309 Newton-meters) of torque. The output could be higher when the model goes on sale, but Hyundai’s Vice Chairman says the powerplant produces less than 300 hp (224 kW). The hot hatch channels its power to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox, and an automatic could join the lineup later. There are also the requisite performance upgrades like a stiffer suspension and bigger brakes.
While some test mules wear the i30’s current body, the hot hatch goes on sale in 2017 using the model’s third-generation platform. Hyundai wants the i30 N to be a statement for its performance division, so the product has to be a contender in the class. The automaker even hired Albert Biermann, BMW M’s former chief engineer, to lead the development, which showed a commitment to finding the right people for the project.
Via: Car Advice
