The 2022 Hyundai i30 Sedan N has been officially revealed after months of teasers and leaks. It’ll be in Australia late in 2021.
With a turbocharged 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, front-wheel drive, and a heavily customisable chassis, it doesn’t deviate too far from the formula laid down by the i30 N and Kona N.
There are some unique features on the Sedan, though. Hyundai says the turbine wheel on the turbocharger is 5mm larger than before, and the turbine passage is 2.5mm larger.
The result is, according to Hyundai, a more durable engine capable of delivering peak power 600rpm earlier than before (5500rpm).
The drive shaft, wheel hub, and wheel bearing are integrated into one unit to save 1.7kg, while the new air intake is lighter but offers 10 per cent more “suction”.
The net result of all this refining of the N formula is a Sedan with 206kW of power (213kW for brief periods) and 392Nm of torque, good for a 100km/h sprint time of 5.3 seconds with the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission fitted.
A six-speed manual will also be available.
Like its hatchback and SUV siblings, the i30 Sedan N breathes through a dual exhaust designed to snap, crackle, and pop explosively.
Unlike its siblings, however, the Sedan has a system allowing owners to tailor the amount of “whine, throat, bass” that makes it into the cabin. It’s also meant to drone less at a constant speed in its most aggressive mode.
Under the skin, the i30 Sedan N employs the same array of electronic and mechanical aids as the hatchback and Kona N.
There’s an electronic limited slip differential on the front axle, along with adaptive dampers, and systems such as N Grin Shift, which enables 20 seconds of overboost and sharpens up gearshifts for extra, well, grin factor.
There’s also N Power Shift, which automatically kicks in when the throttle is depressed beyond 90 per cent. It’s designed to minimise torque reduction on flat-out upshifts, essentially slamming them home harder and faster than in normal driving.
It’s worth bearing in mind, a number of carmakers program their dual-clutch transmissions to shift harder and faster in Sport Mode, which sounds very similar to what Hyundai is promising.
The N Sedan rides on 245mm-wide Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres and 19-inch wheels, behind which hide 360mm brake discs.
Inside, the i30 Sedan N has racier seats than the standard car, along with the same steering wheel fitted to the hatchback and Kona N.
There are unique dials on the digital instrument binnacle, and unique options on the main infotainment touchscreen system to configure your car, measure G-forces, or keep track of your lap times.
Korean buyers will also have access to the Hyundai N app, which allows them to view their driving data on a smartphone to more closely analyse where tenths are slipping through their fingers on the track.
As for the looks? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but there’s no doubt it’s aggressive.
When it arrives, the i30 Sedan N will join the updated i30 N hatchback, the new i20 N pocket rocket, and the Kona N SUV in local showrooms.
