2015 Hyundai i30 Testing New Turbo Engines at the Nurburgring

Strong as it might be, the i30's armor has been battered and beaten by an ever increasing gang of rivals. To bring back some of its lost luster, Hyundai is preparing a mid-life facelift which will no-doubt debut at one of the major European auto shows of 2015, most likely March's Geneva venue.

Our spies stationed around the Nurburgring have sent us new footage of the i30 facelift in action around the famous German test track. The car is still covered in heavy camouflage, but we're actually more interested by what's under the bonnet than the slightly refreshed headlights or bumper.

Downsizing, even Hyundai has to do it

At the still ongoing Paris Motor Show, Hyundai is showcasing some pretty interesting new engine technology. This includes a new 1.0-liter T-GDI Kappa turbo mill, which will be ready for service in 2015.

This is said to produce 120 PS and a very respectable 172 Nm (127 lb-ft) of torque. The 3-cylinder turbo engine was developed at Hyundai's European Technical Center in Russelsheim and features new tech, like a six-hole direct injection system and a split cooling system for the block and head.

When it makes it onto the i30 facelift, the downsized 1.0 T-GDI will probe a valuable alternative to the base Volkswagen Golf 7 models, which currently use a 1.2 TSI engine to deliver 86 and 110 PS.

New Kappa 1.4 T-GDI

Also on display at Hyundai's stand in Paris, a 1.4-liter turbo engine is looking very likely to be offered in the 2015 i30.

It's already been developed as a CNG-burning (that's compressed natural gas) concept that delivers 117 PS and 206 Nm (152 lb-ft) of torque and emits as little as 87 grams per kilometer.

We think that when it's offered a chance to burn petrol, this turbo will make closer to 140 PS and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft), on par with Opel and VW Group mills. Hyundai has revealed that this new mill is base on the old Gamma MPI, but has become significantly lighter and smaller. Like its smaller 1-liter brother, this mill features new tech, including a turbocharger that's integrated into the exhaust manifold for a better response.

The i30 diesels

Many i30 buyers go for the economical diesels. For them, Hyundai is preparing a host of small changes to improve fuel efficiency and drop consumption by about 10%. For the first time ever, these mills could be connected to an efficient new seven-speed twin-clutch transmission, replacing the old six-speed automatic. Yeah, top-spec i30s could prove to be something special.