Hyundai says that the market’s response to the i30 N has been “so positive” that the automaker is now “considering increasing the production volume” of the C-segment hot hatch.
The Korean manufacturer made the announcement at the 2018 Busan International Motor Show, where it presented its new N brand global strategy.
The news follows Albert Biermann, the head of Hyundai’s high-performance N division, in May 2018 admitting that Hyundai had been experiencing supply issues with its new i30 N.
At the show, Hyundai revealed that it planned further diversification of the N brand product portfolio to include more high-performance N-badged models as well as so-called “N Line” vehicles with “new design and performance-enhancing elements”. Meanwhile, “N Option”, which Hyundai describes as “customisation parts by N”, is expected to be available for the entire Hyundai line-up at a later stage.
Thomas Schemera, executive vice-president and head of the high-performance vehicle & motorsport division, said that the experience gained with the N brand would eventually filter down to ordinary models.
“Our motorsports vehicles will spearhead the N brand at the apex of the brand’s hierarchy. Not to mention that the valuable experience and technology derived from our success in motorsports will cascade down to all the future N products,” said Schemera.
Revealed in July 2017, the Hyundai i30 N employs a 2,0-litre turbocharged engine worth up to 202 kW (with the Performance Package specified) and 353 N.m, with drive sent to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox.
