The First Genuinely Hot Hyundai Is Taking On The Nurburgring 24-Hours
The first proper fast Hyundai is on its way in the shape of the i30N later this year, but before that happens the Korean firm is entering two of them into the Nurburgring 24-hour race to give the new hot hatch its final sign-off.
The 2.0-litre turbocharged machine is set to lay the mediocre ghost of the err, sub-optimal Veloster Turbo to rest. It has already been tested on the Nurburgring, at which Hyundai has its own development facility, and on UK roads, as well, so it should be a fine-handling thing when it arrives. No excuses if not, anyway.
We don’t know how powerful or fast it’s going to be, yet, but we do know it will have a six-speed manual gearbox. The racing version is running a standard drivetrain right down to the gearing, but with upgraded brakes, wheels and tyres. There’s obviously a roll-cage as well, and a front splitter/rear spoiler combination to aid aerodynamics.
We can’t help thinking that adding aero will alter the way the car feels through the corners, which, if Hyundai has tuned the steering and chassis to that spec, will mean the production car is in the wrong state of tune, but we’d imagine they finalised the chassis in the UK and mean to use the N24 race mainly for publicity.
The N after the i30 stands both for Namyang, the location of the firm’s base in Korea, and for Nurburgring, after its testing base there. The cars will be racing in the SP3T class, where cars are all mostly standard. After this we’re expecting big things from the i30N. We’re guessing, but power should be upwards of 250bhp; maybe even closer to 300bhp. We look forward to finding out.
Comments
I won’t be surprised if they take it to Le Mans next…
Korea and Germany. Yeah sure i dont see the problem with that
Hyundai racecars. Slower than the security cars since 2017
Wait do the brits get the genesis coupe?
“Hot Hyundai”…. a thing?
After you trash them for a couple of minutes they do become quite hot :P
Not a bad way to test relaiebilty i geuss
Toyota: stopped producing the Supra ages ago, and still no sign of the new one finally reaching the showrooms. The only exciting car you can currently buy is the ageing GT86. Invests money into making more front wheel drive ‘status’ SUVs, like the CH-R and NX.
Nissan: haven’t renewed the 370Z since the last ice age. R35 is a great car, but nowhere near the greatness of the R34 and R33. Invests heavily in Jukes and Quashqais of sorts.
Koreans: Recently launched a new premium brand, Genesis, cars of which you can buy now. Kia released the Stinger GT, a production sports saloon, which is yet cheaper than M3/C63. About to launch the N series Hyundai.
CT: omg JDM cars are amazing! They are best thing ever! Hyundai N series? Haha how funny. Is a fast Hyundai even a thing? Lool.
What about the Yaris hot hatch? But I’m with you - Japanese sports cars are dying. Honda replaced the NSX with something that’ll make purists cringe, no S2000 successor and the Civic Type-R has become a track car. All hopes on Mazda.
laughs in WRX
People will only complain about the new supra.
‘Its not cheap’
‘Its not uber modifyable’
‘Wheres the 3JZ outdated engine series’
The R35 really could do with replacing now, its been around 10 years since launch and its only party piece is now nothing special.
I agree, the Koreans have come a long way in such a short amount if time, looks like its their turn to make some enjoyable cars.
For Japanese cars being old, you do know that the old mk2 Supra was around for like 7 years right?
Wrong, this is the first hot Hyundai (I’ll show myself out)
And to think that just 20 years ago, this was a Hyundai. Now, they are making better mass market cars than the Japanese brands and now they are beginning to make better sports cars and hot hatches.
All I know is that Koreans are now getting the ‘cool’ factor.
Wrc is starting to pay of. We have the yaris long name, the fiesta st 3 cylinders and now the i30N. The next one to come should be the c3 racing. Your move Citroën