Currently reading: Hyundai i30 Fastback N confirmed for Paris motor show debut

Sleek version of the Korean manufacturer's 271bhp hot hatch will use the same powertrain and other key components

Hyundai has confirmed the i30 Fastback N will make its debut at the Paris motor show in October. Official images have shown prototypes undergoing final testing at the Nürburgring, where the company has its European Test Centre. 

The sleek five-door Fastback N is the third performance car to come from Hyundai's fledgling N division, following the i30 N hatchback and US-only Veloster N.

The i30 Fastback N has now been revealed - take a look

The Fastback N will use the same mechanicals, powertrain and twin-exit exhaust system as its hatchback sibling, and could be seen rolling on the same 19in wheels in our earlier spy shots. That means it will offer two power outputs from its turbocharged 2.0-litre engine: 247bhp for the standard variant and 271bhp for the version equipped with the optional N Performance Pack, which we drove in prototype form earlier this month.

Both variants will be front-wheel drive and are expected to come with a six-speed manual gearbox, like the existing hatchback model. Despite the change in body shape, the fastback’s performance will likely be near identical to the hatchback’s, meaning 0-62mph time of about 6.1sec for the 271bhp version.

The Fastback N will go on sale in February 2019 following its official Paris reveal.

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Hyundai N division boss Albert Biermann, who joined the firm from BMW’s M division, oversees chassis development for all of Hyundai’s models, but is known to have most influence over its hottest cars. Biermann encourages a more playful setup on his models, so this will no doubt remain a target for the i30 Fastback N.

Biermann told Autocar last year that the i30N models would be effective track machines. He said “There are too many cars out there with tyres and brakes that go [off] too fast [on circuit]”, but that Hyundai “really wanted to make a car that can be consistent”.

Biermann confirmed that his team used extensive testing stints at the Nürburgring, which included competing in last year's 24-hour race there, to boost the durability of the i30N platform. He said that such methods directly helped to improve the car’s clutch and shift operation, as well as brake cooling.

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The i30 Fastback N will also use Hyundai’s electronically controlled damping, which constantly adjusts each damper independently to maximise performance in the sportiest modes, or be more forgiving in softer modes. These modes also adjust the car’s electronic limited slip differential (E-LSD).

The i30 Fastback N’s unique selling point will centre directly on its sleek design. Market trends suggest that it will sell in lower volumes than the regular hatchback, although it is also likely to have a higher price which will affect this.

The regular i30 Fastback, which comes with 1.0-litre or 1.4-litre petrol engines, starts at £20,305 in SE Nav form, which is £500 more than the equivalent i30 hatch. A similar jump is therefore likely with the i30N Fastback, meaning it could start from about £25,500.

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LP in Brighton 19 April 2018

Why does it need to be tested at the Nurburgring?

There can't be much difference between the fastback's weight, weight distribution, body stiffness etc from the regular hatch, so why the need for more Nurburgring laps?  Or any race track come to that; how many owners are going to do battle on a track? 

Ah yes, but it wouldn't be featured in magazines like Autocar without this "testing", so I guess it's all justified.

Wonder if the cost comes off the R&D budget, or the PR/advertising department! 

Ubberfrancis44 19 April 2018

LP in Brighton wrote:

LP in Brighton wrote:

There can't be much difference between the fastback's weight, weight distribution, body stiffness etc from the regular hatch, so why the need for more Nurburgring laps?  Or any race track come to that; how many owners are going to do battle on a track? 

Ah yes, but it wouldn't be featured in magazines like Autocar without this "testing", so I guess it's all justified.

Wonder if the cost comes off the R&D budget, or the PR/advertising department! 

 

I was at a trackdy last weekend, and there were 6 private I30N's which did run on the track, quite extensively might I add (Brakes are superior to many Brembos one of the owners said), and I guess that is a high percentage of the cars actually delivered yet here.

si73 19 April 2018

LP in Brighton wrote:

LP in Brighton wrote:

There can't be much difference between the fastback's weight, weight distribution, body stiffness etc from the regular hatch, so why the need for more Nurburgring laps?  Or any race track come to that; how many owners are going to do battle on a track? 

Ah yes, but it wouldn't be featured in magazines like Autocar without this "testing", so I guess it's all justified.

Wonder if the cost comes off the R&D budget, or the PR/advertising department! 

I agree re the ring, the point I was trying to make was that I'd have assumed no testing would be carried out for the reasons you state and that they'd just fit the N gear to the new body shape, that they are testing it further could make this car even better so that it might even beat a golf gti in a review.

LP in Brighton 19 April 2018

Beat a Golf GTi?

For that I suspect that it would need a different badge on the bonnet and maybe some more squishy premium plastic inside, at least as far as the UK magazines are concerned. Interesting that several of these cars have been spotted at track days. Maybe buyers already know that the Huyndai is better than a Golf for track work, though I wonder how well the 5 year warranty word work if Hyundai found out!

Beermann 26 July 2018

The warranty covers track days...

They have said the Ring testing is mainly about durability, which is why the warranty also covers track days.  Lots of owners doing so as noted above. 

si73 19 April 2018

This is good news as I would

This is good news as I would have assumed that they'd just fit the N hatches running gear to the fastback body, that it is being developed, maybe this will address the few shortcomings the hatch has, making this almost a 2nd generation N, enabling it to rank even higher in the testers reviews.

si73 19 April 2018

I think this looks so much

I think this looks so much better than the standard hatch.