It was late October when we first laid eyes on the facelifted Hyundai i30 Fastback N, or should we say the second facelift of the car, as it already received one for the 2021 model year, subsequent to its 2018 unveiling. And now we have a new set of scoops to work with.
The camouflage up front is identical, and that also includes the fresh headlights with their different graphics and the redesigned lower section of the front bumper. We suspect the grille hides a new pattern beneath the camo. Otherwise, it would look the same.
But do you know what has changed? That would be the back end of the car compared to our previous sighting. This prototype, which was also caught at the Nurburgring in Germany, albeit in the dry this time, didn't feature the heavy disguise of the one we saw last month.
One might think the additional novelties would be far more visible, right? Normally, that would be a yes, but we cannot see anything new. This applies to the rear bumper and diffuser combo, as they are the same as before. The triangular brake light positioned between the tailpipes carries over, and so does the ducktail spoiler. Even the taillights look the same to us, though they will likely be new by the time the car premieres.
Photo: Baldauf
Could the modest visual updates suggest that the Korean brand's engineers have focused more on the chassis, giving it a more aggressive tune? Only the people involved in its development know the answer to this question.
If we were to bet on it, we'd also say that the interior might receive some fresh touches, too, so we're keeping our fingers crossed for an updated dashboard panel and some new dual screens, perhaps joined by new tech gear. In other words, we hope Hyundai will give it some of the goodies found on the latest Elantra N, which kicks off at $32,900 in the US and enjoys 276 hp (280 ps/206 kW) and 289 lb-ft (393 Nm) of torque.
Powering the current Hyundai i30 Fastback N is a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with four cylinders. The output is rated at 246 hp (250 ps/184 kW), and it is good for 260 lb-ft (353 Nm) of torque. The Performance variant rocks identical thrust but brings more oomph at 276 hp (280 ps/206 kW). Our money would be on the same lump, perhaps with a bit more power for an improved sprint time that currently takes a little over six seconds to 62 mph (100 kph).
We'll know more about the sport compact model when it debuts, probably in a few months, with deliveries maybe kicking off in the first half of next year.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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