Hyundai reveals sporty i30 N Line
BY JUSTIN HILLIARD | 20th Jul 2018
HYUNDAI Motor has moved to capitalise on the success of its i30 N hot hatch with the UK release of the sporty N Line variant of the regular i30 small car, which could join its Australian range soon.
Speaking to GoAuto, Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) general manager of external affairs Bill Thomas confirmed that the i30 N Line is currently being assessed for a local launch.
“We’re looking at it,” he said. “We’re just trying to work everything out. Nothing is confirmed, but we’re very interested in it. i30 will be the first (model to receive an N Line variant) if we decide to go down that road.”
GoAuto understands that if HMCA opts to sell the i30 N Line locally, it is likely to replace the small car’s existing SR variants at some stage, given that both are positioned as sportier offerings.
The i30 line-up is expected to receive a model-year update later this year, which could usher in the N Line alongside the competing SR until the latter is eventually phased out.
Compared to the SR, the N Line ups the ante with i30 N-inspired exterior and interior styling, as well as upgrades to suspension, brakes, tyres and engine.
Specifically, the N Line inherits its front and rear bumpers directly from the i30 N, but they are accented with a silver paint line instead of the latter’s red hue.
New-look 18-inch alloy wheels pair with twin exhaust tailpipes and N Line badging below the A-pillars to identify the N Line from its i30 N sibling.
Inside the N Line, a perforated-leather sport steering wheel and N gear-shift knob are also lifted from the i30 N, as are the optional N-branded suede sport seats that provide better lateral support.
Additionally, the N Line’s standard Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres offer improved grip, while its 16-inch front brake discs – up one inch over the SR’s – provide greater stopping power.
While Hyundai Motor also promises improvements to the regular i30’s suspension and engine response in the N Line, it is yet to detail what these changes exactly are.
Given the UK-market N Line is motivated by a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine not sold Down Under, the local version is likely to employ the 1.6-litre unit found in the current SR.
This motor produces 150kW of power at 6000rpm and 265Nm of torque from 1500 to 4500rpm and can be matched to a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Other Hyundai models that could receive an N Line variant in the future include the Veloster sportscar and Kona small SUV, which both have full-blown N models entering production soon.
Sales of the i30 have slightly improved this year, with 14,980 examples sold to the end of June – a 3.0 per cent increase over the 14,537 deliveries made during the same period in 2017.
As such, the i30 is currently placed third in the sub-$40,000 small-car segment, trailing the Toyota Corolla (19,143 units) and Mazda3 (17,090) but ahead of the Volkswagen Golf (10,479), Kia Cerato (10,232) and Honda Civic (7669), among others.
