Hyundai’s first-ever proper hot hatch has been given a facelift since it was introduced in 2017. Over 25,000 units of the Hyundai i30N have been sold in Europe and since then the N-badge have been proof of Hyundai’s commitment to performance.

The i30N is available in 2 body styles, a hatchback and a fastback. Both updated models feature a wide, mesh centre grille which has been optimised to allow efficient engine cooling.

The outer bumper corners are dominated by aerodynamic side fins which incorporate air curtains to improve airflow and reduce turbulence into the wheel housing.

While the rear-end of the fastback remains unchanged, things are looking a little wilder for the hatchback i30N. A large rear roof spoiler with a distinct N triangular brake light is fitted along with updated LED taillights.

Completing the hot hatch stance are 2 large exhaust pipes integrated into the lower bumper diffuser.

As standard, the i30N comes fitted with 18-inch alloys on Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres. Upgrade to the Performance Package and you would get 19-inch forged alloy wheels which are 14.4 kg lighter. These will be outfitted with Pirelli P-Zero tyres that are developed especially for the i30N.

Inside, the i30N is focused on connecting the car with the driver. The analogue gauges include an active variable LED red zone which varies according to engine oil temperature, and a shift timing indicator which shows the driver the best time to change gears.

The i30N also offers the option of a set of lightweight, high-performance front seats called N Light Seats. These seats are 2.2 kg lighter than the standard seats and are made of premium leather and Alcantara materials.

This being a hot hatch, of course, the most anticipating figures would be from the performance. For the first time ever, the i30N comes with an 8-speed DCT gearbox which is mated to a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine.

Purists who prefer to row their own gears wouldn't need to rage their anger as a 6-speed manual is also available with the same engine.

The standard i30N delivers a maximum power output of 250 PS and 353 Nm. Opt for the Performance Package and on top of doing burnouts on Pirellis, you get a boost of power to 280 PS and 392 Nm.

Both trim levels have a top speed of 250 km/h and 0-100 km/h time for the Performance Package is 5.9 seconds which is a 0.2 second improvement over the standard i30N.

That 8-speed DCT which Hyundai calls N DCT is a wet type transmission and is only available for the Performance Package. The N DCT enables 3 new N performance functions which are:

• N Grin Shift (NGS) – Releases maximum power of the engine and transmission for 20 seconds which according to Hyundai’s press release, is “sure to bring a grin to the driver’s face”.
• N Power Shift (NPS) – Engages when the car accelerates with more than 90 percent of the throttle which mitigates reduction of torque in giving a “push feel” when upshifting.
• N Tracks Sense Shift (NTS) – Automatically recognises when the road conditions are optimal for dynamic driving, providing optimal performance.

The i30N comes with 5 different driving modes which are Eco, Normal, Sport, N, and N Custom. Just like the previous i30N, it features an electronically controlled suspension which, claims Hyundai, results in improved ride and handling performance.

On top of that, the Performance Package increases the front brake disc size from 345 mm to 360 mm for better braking performance.

Like an everyday car, the i30N comes packed with an abundance of safety features including Hyundai SmartSense ADAS suite which includes AEB with pedestrian detection and blind-spot monitors. It also comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

Sales for the i30N will begin in Europe in early 2021 with prices to be announced later. Meanwhile back in Malaysia, the previous i30N is hardly seen on the road even though it was offered for sale. Seeing how lukewarm the reception was for the i30N, don’t expect this to make it here unfortunately.