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2020 Hyundai i30 N Project C Promises To Be Lighter, Sit Lower Than i30 N

Equipped with carbon-fiber reinforced plastic parts and 19-inch wheels inspired by the world of motorsports, the i30 N Project C is the next chapter in the quest for performance at Hyundai of Europe. The name comes from the Area C test track at the Namyang development center in South Korea, hence the orange decals over the car’s camouflage.
2020 Hyundai i30 N Project C 10 photos
Photo: Hyundai
2020 Hyundai i30 N Project C2020 Hyundai i30 N Project C2020 Hyundai i30 N Project C2020 Hyundai i30 N Project C2020 Hyundai i30 N Project C2020 Hyundai i30 N Project C2020 Hyundai i30 N Project C2020 Hyundai i30 N Project C2020 Hyundai i30 N Project C
To be unveiled in the flesh at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, Project C is strictly limited to 600 examples of the breed in select markets across Europe. Aerodynamic improvements complement the lighter weight, and as expected, this hot hatchback develops 275 PS.

What that means is that the 2.0 T-GDi doesn’t feature any changes whatsoever from the i30 N with the Performance Pack, one of the best-handling cars in the segment. The 2.0-liter engine also develops 378 Nm of torque from 1,750 all the way up to 4,200 rpm, translating to loads of potential over a broad range and in a multitude of driving scenarios.

The biggest question, however, is what kind of transmission the Project C features. We all know that Hyundai is developing a DCT for high-performance applications such as the i30 N and Veloster N, and if reports and the rumor mill are to be taken for granted, the dual-clutch transmission will be announced in late 2019 for the 2020 model year.

Public relations manager Guido Schenken previously mentioned the possibility of all-wheel drive, an interesting proposition given the presence of the Ford Focus RS and Volkswagen Golf R in this segment. Even more interesting is that the AWD layout and rear suspension of the Kona are compatible with the i30, featuring a similar platform.

Hyundai, however, won’t be stopping here. A mid-engine halo sports car is in the pipeline, only to be joined by an electric vehicle co-developed with Rimac Automobili as part of an €80-million investment. Say what you will about the South Korean automaker, but Hyundai is looking forward to make its cars more exciting than ever before!
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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