And all sanctioned by the manufacturer, too.
Korean carmaker Hyundai might’ve debuted their i30 Fastback N in Paris, but it won’t be the only Korean starlet on display. Sharing a stand with the 5-door coupe is this, the i30N ’N Option,’ which aims to show off a bunch of optional accessories that Hyundai intends to launch soon, to let customers go to town with their hot hatchback.
“With our N portfolio we are shaking up the competition, and bringing new performance and emotions for our customers. The development of our N vehicles is grounded in Motorsport and our engagement there is the pinnacle of N. The new i30 N-Line and our i30N ’N Option’ show car illustrate our dual approach to customisation, making N available to a wider audience.” — Thomas Schemera, Executive Vice President (High Performance Vehicles & Motorsports), Hyundai Motor Group
All in all, some 25 optional extras have been applied to this showcar, which has been finished in a unique matte-white that they say is specifically for this application. N Option parts are kind of trying to be like BMW’s M-Sport parts, though we’re hoping that this is being explored because it’s wanted, and not just to make Albert Biermann (a BMW M alumnus) feel comfortable in his new digs.
It begins with the exterior: The N-grille with its red highlights, the carbon-fibre vented hood, the carbon-fibre N-branded spoiler, the four exhausts and the 20-inch alloys are all part of the optional accessories list, though at least the red brake callipers are standard. The semi-slick high-performance tyres though, those are neither.
Step inside and the N treatment continues. The sports seats with their red centre stripe are pretty sharp, as is the widespread use of Alcantara. In addition to that there’s also a whole bunch of carbon-fibre touches, like around the air vents, the door handles, and on the bottom of the steering wheel. There’s also a unique set of pedals and bespoke gear knob, among other things.
The Hyundai i30N ’N Option’ doesn’t feature any mechanical changes. As such, expect to still find a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, putting out a heady 202kW and 353kW, with power going to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. A double-clutch automatic will join the options list sometime next year.
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