Hyundai previews new hot hatch with RN30 concept car
Hyundai will look to take on the Ford Focus ST and Honda Civic Type R with a hot version of its new i30 hatchback...
The new Hyundai i30 hatchback will spawn a 375bhp performance version in 2017, as the Korean manufacturer looks to take on the best hot hatches on the market.
Previewed at the Paris motor show by this RN30 concept car, the performance i30N will be the first hot hatch from Hyundai, as well as the first model to come from its performance sub-brand, N.
Power for the concept car comes from a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine with 375bhp and 331lb ft of torque. In comparison, the current Ford Focus ST and Honda Civic Type R get 247bhp and 310bhp respectively, while the Ford Focus RS, one of the best cars in this market, gets 345bhp.
While the regular Hyundai i30 has front-wheel drive, the RN30 concept has four-wheel drive. It's also significantly lower and wider than the standard car, and has much more aggressive-looking bodywork. Although the production i30N is expected to adopt a softer approach, it should still look significantly different to the regular i30.
The RN30 has a stripped-out interior with a bucket seat and roll cage, and has integrated cameras to capture footage of the car in action.
Developed at the famous Nürburging racing circuit in Germany, the i30N will be Hyundai's first entry into the hot hatchback market, but given the manufacturer's desire to turn use the N badge more in future, it's likely that we'll soon see more performance derivatives of its other cars.
Read more - our full Hyundai i30 review
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