Photo: SB-Medien
When Hyundai announced the i30 Fastback a while back, everybody immediately thought of the classic Mustangs. But now that we got to look at the thing, we wish the Koreans hadn't bothered making it.
In many ways, this project reminds us of the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo, but in some ways it's worse. From the front, the car looks like a regular hatchback, while the back end is something different. What you're left with is two miss-matching ends fighting for attention.
Looks are obviously subjective, but we doubt many people will look at this car and say "this is what I've always wanted." Sure, it's a little bit more practical than the regular hatchback, but the i30 Touring is better still, not to mention a looker.
Just like the 6 Series GT, the i30 Fastback thinks it's a coupe, as the manufacturer describes it as a "five-door coupe in the compact car segment," which is wrong. An Audi TT is a coupe. To be fair, the roof is 25mm lower here than on the regular i30. It's supposed to have 15% stiffer suspension as well.
However, the engines are more like those of an ordinary family car. There's the entry-level unit with 120 HP, which is a 3-cylinder and gets to 100 km/h in 11.5, as well as a 1.4 turbo with 140 HP that takes 9.2 seconds. However, about half the customers are predicted to opt for one of the two 1.6-liter turbodiesel units which produce either 110 or 136 HP. Rumor has it that there will be an N version with 250 HP or more, but we can't see it happening.
“We are the first volume brand to enter the compact segment with a stylish and sophisticated 5-door coupe,” declared Thomas Burkle, chief designer at Hyundai Europe. “Our team was able to achieve a pure design, which combines the sports car spirit with the comfort of a luxurious sedan."
Looks are obviously subjective, but we doubt many people will look at this car and say "this is what I've always wanted." Sure, it's a little bit more practical than the regular hatchback, but the i30 Touring is better still, not to mention a looker.
Just like the 6 Series GT, the i30 Fastback thinks it's a coupe, as the manufacturer describes it as a "five-door coupe in the compact car segment," which is wrong. An Audi TT is a coupe. To be fair, the roof is 25mm lower here than on the regular i30. It's supposed to have 15% stiffer suspension as well.
However, the engines are more like those of an ordinary family car. There's the entry-level unit with 120 HP, which is a 3-cylinder and gets to 100 km/h in 11.5, as well as a 1.4 turbo with 140 HP that takes 9.2 seconds. However, about half the customers are predicted to opt for one of the two 1.6-liter turbodiesel units which produce either 110 or 136 HP. Rumor has it that there will be an N version with 250 HP or more, but we can't see it happening.
“We are the first volume brand to enter the compact segment with a stylish and sophisticated 5-door coupe,” declared Thomas Burkle, chief designer at Hyundai Europe. “Our team was able to achieve a pure design, which combines the sports car spirit with the comfort of a luxurious sedan."
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