While the new Hyundai i30 N is set to be officially revealed soon, the freshly established performance arm of the Korean automaker has all but confirmed that an i20 hot hatch will follow in 2018.
According to AutoExpress, Hyundai is hard at work on the i20 N, conceived to take the fight to the next-generation Ford Fiesta ST, the upcoming Volkswagen Polo GTI and even the supercharged Toyota Yaris GRMN (although the latter isn’t on the cards for South Africa).
The British publication reports that the i20 N will hit the road only after the Hyundai i30 N five-door hatch (plus a fastback version) and the Veloster N are up and running.
Hyundai N chief Albert Biermann was recently asked if the performance sub-brand had plans to expand its range to include vehicles smaller than the i30.
“Of course. Why would we limit ourselves to C-segment? There are tons of hot superminis out there – Polo GTI, Fiesta ST, Peugeot 208 and even Toyota now is doing one. There’s a good market out there,” Biermann said, according to AutoExpress.
The publication reports that the i20 N will employ a 1,6-litre turbocharged petrol engine sending somewhere in the region of 150 kW to the front wheels.
