A few years ago, Hyundai arrived on the hot hatch scene with the raucous, charming i30 N, a worthy adversary for the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI. And, the updated 2021 model lands here this month.
Hyundai New Zealand has announced that the 2021 i30 N is now on sale, subsequently confirming the look of the full line-up and pricing.
Four versions of i30 N will be offered locally; a manual and dual-clutch automatic hatchback and a manual and dual-clutch automatic ‘Fastback’ sedan.
Pricing has gone up slightly, with the base manual hatch now priced from $58,990. Those wanting a self shifter pay a fairly hefty premium, with the DCT hatch priced from $65,990. The Fastback’s manual and auto equivalents are priced from $62,990 and $69,990, respectively.
Although the price difference is steep, the DCT is likely to be fairly competitive with the manual in terms of sales volume. Although the hot hatch segment still has plenty of love for the manual stick, models with both transmission options available tend to sell in greater quantities.
Volkswagen has previously reported in overseas markets that automatic Golf GTI and R models sell better than manual versions. Some manufacturers have elected to ditch manuals entirely. Ford’s latest Focus ST is only available in New Zealand with an automatic, as is the new Mk8 Golf GTI.
“The i30 N hot hatch and Fastback have been popular amongst performance car enthusiasts, however with the arrival of a DCT option, we anticipate it will attract more new customers, enabling them to experience that N feeling”, says Hyundai New Zealand General Manager, Andy Sinclair.
As previously reported, the new i30 N packs the same 2.0-litre turbofour, but with a mild power boost of 4kW, ramping things up from 202kW to 206kW. Torque has been given a lift, too, increasing from 376Nm to 392Nm.
Hyundai’s dual-clutch comes with the brand’s ‘N Grin Shift’ system. At the push of a button this gives the car a temporary 20-second boost increase. Launch control has also been tossed into the fray, and rev-matching has returned. With launch control activated, Hyundai says the new i30 N can hit 100km/h in 5.4 seconds, some seven tenths quicker than the outgoing model.
Standard kit includes a set of forged 19-inch wheels, black Alcantara and leather upholstery, a 10.25-inch infotainment screen, and a few key improvements to the safety suite, inclusive of blind-spot monitoring, lane following assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. Fastback models also come with a sunroof as standard.
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