One of the most beloved modern hot hatches got a significant revamp and it is awesome. The engine gives more, the weight is reduced, the brakes are better, there is now a DCT gearbox option and the car looks more modern inside and out.
We’ll leave the design changes for you to see in the pictures here and for us when we finally get our hands on one in early 2021, but in terms of performance, we have a few pieces of good news for you.
The car is still powered by a 2 L four-pot turbo, but it has been retuned for 39 Nm and 4 kW more. The figures now reach 206 kW and 392 Nm. While that may not sound like a massive increase, it actually comes from optimization more than a chase for a top figure. This optimization means that a run to 100 now takes 5.9 seconds and that a flatter torque curve now gives more in the middle range. This means the push will be more noticeable and more substantial even in everyday driving conditions. While this means a lot to any car, drivers of the manual option will welcome this the most.
Handling is further improved by reducing weight in a number of ways, including shaving off 15 kg through the use of the new 19” forged alloy wheels. This doesn’t only mean 15 kg less, but 15 kg of unsprung weight less. That means a lot for handling.
More weight is shaved off on the inside with the use of lighter materials and parts.
The front LSD is still present, thank you very much.
Now, we know that Hyundai loves us Aussies more so we get electronic control for the LSD and bigger brakes, both of which are parts of a Performance Pack elsewhere on this planet and standard in Australia.
While we love the manual in the previous i30 N we’re sure many will welcome the new option of an 8-speed dual-clutch which promises lightning fast shifts that can also be controlled by paddle shifters. Finally a DCT in a car that actually needs it.
There are also three different gearbox modes. The N Track is exactly what you think it is – it helps shave off seconds on the track in any way possible.
The N Power Shift automatically turns on when you apply more than 90% of throttle and it almost eliminates any loss of power at shifts. This means you get more of a push for the best acceleration times and you also get a nice kick in the back when the higher gear is engaged.
The N Grin (yes Grin, not Green, nothing to do with eco driving) pushes some extra power and torque for a short time of up to 20 seconds. Hyundai says it is there to make you smile an not improve lap times. Use the N Track mode for that.
If you still want an Eco mode, you can find it as a subset to N Grin, alongside Normal, Sport, N and N Custom.
