Updated Hyundai i30 N priced from $44,500 + ORC

HYUNDAI has announced Australian pricing and specifications of the revised i30 N hot hatch ahead of its showroom arrival in July, costing from $44,500 plus on-roads with the new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic option carrying a $3000 premium.

This represents a $3100 increase over the outgoing model, in return for which buyers get a lighter and more potent car with additional safety features and on-board tech while still undercutting the Ford Focus ST1 manual by $390.

Aiding performance and agility are forged alloy wheels that shave a total of 14.4kg of unsprung mass from the i30 N. They remain 19-inch in size with i30 N-specific Pirelli P-Zero tyres.

On Premium variants, redesigned sports seats – with illuminated N logos on the headrests and a mix of Alcantara and leather upholstery – are 2.2kg lighter than the items they replace.

The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine’s torque output has swelled 39Nm, to 392Nm and peak power of 206kW is 4kW more than before and matching the Focus ST, though the Ford’s 420Nm of torque remains a substantial advantage.

Braking has also been upgraded, the front rotor diameter increasing by 15mm, to 360mm.

As a result, the claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time has been reduced to 5.4 seconds with the dual-clutch transmission, eight-tenths quicker than the pre-update manual. Top speed remains electronically limited to 250km/h.

Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (auto transmission only) and lane following assist have been added to the list of standard active safety features and the media system’s touchscreen has expanded from 8.0-inch to 10.25 inches.

Other new touches include keyless entry with push-button start, a wireless smartphone charging pad, power-folding exterior mirrors, and LED courtesy and puddle lights.

Upgrading to manual-only Premium spec costs the same as adding the dual-clutch auto to a regular i30 N or, for an additional $1500 the Premium can be specified with a panoramic glass sunroof at which point the automatic transmission can be added for another $3000.

Six colour options will be offered, of which two are Mica finishes costing an extra $495.

Going for the dual-clutch unlocks three new functions; N Grin Shift, which provides 20 seconds of overboost with a countdown timer on the dashboard display, N Power Shift is a more aggressive upshift activated by more than 90 per cent throttle applications and N Track Sense automatically senses optimum shift timing and gear selection under hard driving so the driver can concentrate on their cornering.

Styling updates include a redesigned grille for increased airflow to the engine bay and reshaped LED headlights with LED daytime running lights to align with the rest of the facelifted i30 range.

The front bumper now has aerodynamic fins on outer corners to reduce turbulence in and around the wheelarches, while new LED tail-lights and a larger roof have been added at the rear, to complement the N-specific bodykit.

Other standard inclusions and specifications are carried over from the pre-facelift i30 N, the high-performance technical package comprising an electro-mechanical limited-slip differential, adaptive dampers, an active variable exhaust with sound intensity controlled via settings in the N Drive Mode System and an N Performance Driving Data System for recording acceleration and lap times.

Manual i30 Ns have a rev-matching function to simulate heel-and-toe downshifts.

Inside are alloy sports pedals, sports front seats, a leather-appointed steering wheel, 4.2-inch digital driver’s display, and the facelift’s new safety tech joins the carryover forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking system, lane-keep assist, tyre pressure monitoring, rear parking sensors, reversing camera and driver attention warning.

The bigger new multimedia screen provides access to DAB+ digital radio and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone mirroring. There’s also dual-zone climate control, crusie control and a space-saver spare.

Upgrades on the i30 N Premium comprise front parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, heated front seats and steering wheel, a self-dimming interior mirror and rear privacy glass.

2021 Hyundai i30 N pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs