Hyundai i30 N REVEALED with up to 271bhp as Hyundai attack the Focus ST and Golf GTI

The Hyundai i30 N – Hyundai’s first N Performance car – is revealed as a convincing Focus ST and Golf GTI basher and with up to 271bhp.

The Hyundai i30 N – Hyundai’s first N Performance car, designed to take on cars like the Focus ST and Golf GTI – is finally revealed after what seems like endless years of teasing from Hyundai.

But, now the i30 N is finally here, it does look pretty convincing.

The ‘sporty’ makeover isn’t an explosion in a teenage petrolhead’s mind, but s subtle set of changes to the already convincing i30, with a new front bumper, new air inlets, rear diffuser, a gloss black spoiler, twin exhausts, 18″ alloys and just a few hints of red (well, that’s compulsory on a ‘performance’ car).

Inside is familiar i30 territory, but there’s a sports steering wheel with drive modes, sports seats, blue stitching and a new gear lever knob. 

But it’s what’s under the skin that matters most, and the i30 N looks to offer enough to be competitive, even if you have to dig a bit deeper for the most power.

The 2.0 litre petrol turbo delivers 247bhp, but there’s a performance pack which ups that to a more appealing 271bhp, with the regular i30 hitting 62mph in 6.4 seconds and the Performance pack cutting that to 6.1 seconds. Power goes to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.

Sporty ‘toys’ include rev matching and launch control, and there’s a choice of five Drive Modes – including a custom option – with the Performance Pack adding an electronic limited slip diff, 19″ alloys, bigger brakes, electronic suspension and a variable valve exhaust.

Tech stuff is what you’d expect from an i30, with a 5″ touchscreen (bigger costs more) with ‘N’ tweaks, Lane Keep Assist, Autonomous Braking and Driver Monitor.

The new Hyundai i30 will launch before the end of 2017 – after a likely public debut in Frankfurt – and we’d expect prices to start the right side of £30k. But expect to spend more to get what you really want.