Hyundai's Hot Hatch!

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WE’VE READ about it, written about it, heard it and even driven the prototype, but here it is, the final production version of the Hyundai i30 N, the first serious hot hatch challenger from Korea.

As the debut product from Hyundai’s standalone N performance division (N stands for Hyundai’s Namyang home base), it’s responsible for changing perceptions of a brand traditionally known for value and reliability rather than white-knuckle, hair-raising performance.

Developed under the watch of Hyundai (and Kia’s) performance car boss Albert Biermann, formerly of BMW, the i30 N will be available in two flavours. Both feature a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the base car producing 184kW at 6000rpm and 353Nm from 1450-4000rpm, the Performance Package adding an extra 16kW and developing its maximum torque over a wider 1450-4700rpm range.