Hyundai’s updated rival to the Ford Focus ST and Volkswagen Golf GTI has been teased, ahead of a full reveal in the coming weeks.
The facelifted 2021 Hyundai i30 N has been previewed in shadowy images this week, with the Korean brand confirming an Australian launch in the first half of 2021 as well as the long-awaited arrival of a new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission option.
We can see the updated model will look very similar to the renders we published five months ago – courtesy of our very own Thanos Pappas.
In keeping with the facelifted i30 hatchback on which it’s based, the new i30 N gets revised front and rear fascias, incorporating new lights, grille and bumpers.
At the rear we can also see much larger tailpipes sticking out of a more aggressive diffuser insert, consistent with the i30 Fastback N prototype spied in Sydney a month ago.
There’s also new lightweight 19-inch forged alloy wheels for the new hot hatch, which Hyundai says help to save “more than 14kg of unsprung mass” compared to the outgoing model’s rims.
Beyond the images and launch timing, Hyundai hasn’t really offered much else in the way of new details – more will be “revealed soon”.
It’s unclear whether the updated model will get a power bump to go with its new look – currently the 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol develops 202kW and 353Nm in ‘Performance’ guise.
Overseas model shown
Expect the interior to look something like the above image of the updated i30 N Line from Europe.
Key changes inside should include a 7.0-inch digital display in the instrument cluster, a larger 10.25-inch widescreen infotainment system, as well as the availability of new active safety systems like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert – the latter incorporating a reverse AEB function.
Stay tuned to CarExpert for our coverage of the the new i30 N’s reveal in the coming weeks.
