Hyundai i30 Turbo to Run 'Ring, New 2.0L for the i30 Will Have at Least 220 HP

Firstly, the 1-minute teaser presents a 2.0-liter turbo engine that we thing has a 99% chance of being used by the i30 N. That car will be the first hot model from the newly launched performance division. Considering Hyundai invested a lot of money and even opened a test facility near the Nurburgring, you could say that a lot is riding on this.

Although the company hasn't given us any output numbers, just the fact that we know a 2-liter turbo will be used is a huge clue. At one point in the video, you can see that the unit produces 214 PS at 4,000 rpm and 375 Nm of torque. We think that's going to be close to the maximum output of the unit, since the VW Golf GTI makes its 230 PS at 4,500rpm.

That might not seem like much, but this is their first true hot hatch, plus it's better to have a lot of low-end torque. The i30 Turbo, equipped with a 1.6-liter engine, produces 186 PS and will also be racing this weekend at the Nurburgring, together with the Veloster.

Behind the wheel of the i30 2.0 Turbo will be Hyundai test driver Bruno Beulen, who is usually behind the wheel when you see a Hyundai prototype at the Nordschleife. Without him, Hyundai would have a chance of competing.

“This Nürburgring 24h race provides the ideal test bed for our motorsport-inspired N sub-brand development and a key part of our ‘born in Namyang, honed at Nürburgring’ performance-car ethos. The technological inspiration and experience gained from this extreme testing will accelerate our development of high-performance, fun-to-drive N models,” says Albert Biermann, the man whom Hyundai took from BMW M to head their new division.