After five years in the market, Hyundai has decided to give the i30 Fastback N a second mid-cycle refresh. The facelifted iteration was recently spied testing at the Nurburgring and driving around the roads near the famous German racetrack, and it had its front and rear ends under wraps.
This is where the Korean company's designers concentrated their attention when it comes to the styling tweaks, as the car has new fascias to set itself apart from the outgoing iteration. But while they are visible, you'll probably need a side-by-side comparison with the current one to spot the novelties.
One of the most important changes revolves around the headlamps. The main clusters are now slimmer and feature a new DRL signature. The lower sections of the bumper have redesigned air intakes, and the grille looks about the same, though it should at least feature a new pattern.
Hyundai applied even more camouflage to the back end of the facelifted i30 Fastback N, yet the changes won't be that extensive. We expect it to feature a pair of new taillights, a redesigned bumper, and a fresh diffuser. The large dual exhaust tips appear to be identical, and so do the wheels, for that matter.
Photo: Baldauf
If you look closely at certain elements, you will see a hint of red. And we're not only talking about the brake calipers hugging the discs every time the driver steps on the brake pedal but the apron that's barely visible from beneath the thick camouflage at the front. It also seems that the side skirts are new, or at least the portion in front of the rear wheels.
The dashboard was barely visible in the batch of scoops sent to our inbox by our spy photographers, but the infotainment system is likely new. We expect Hyundai to perhaps update other parts of the interior, like the center console and steering wheel. We wouldn't hold our breath for additional tech and safety features, though we wouldn't rule them out either.
In the current i30 Fastback N, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine produces 246 hp (250 ps/184 kW) in the standard form and 276 hp (280 ps/206 kW) in the Performance variant. Both of them have 353 Nm (260 lb-ft) of torque on tap, and they take a little over six seconds to push to 100 kph (62 mph).
It is possible that the sporty compact model, which is a sibling to the i30 N hot hatch, will continue to be offered with the same output and thrust. Nonetheless, we will find out for sure if that's the case when it debuts, and that could happen in the first half of 2024, with the order books likely opening shortly after the premiere.
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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