Hyundai Gets Serious About A Truly Hot Hatch

2017 Hyundai Elantra GT (Credit: Hyundai)

With everyone getting into a hot hatch shootout, Hyundai has decided to throw the smack down as well. Car and Driver claims the Koreans are working on the i30N. It would be an N-brand version of the i30, which is sold as the Elantra GT here in the United States.

The Hyundai Elantra GT is a surprisingly good car, one that’s often overlooked in this market. While it’s no screamer, things look to be changing in a big way. Like the upcoming Honda Civic Type R, the car will be front-wheel-drive. Personally, I’d rather it come with at least an optional all-wheel-drive system.

Car and Driver claims Hyundai’s N-brand performance division will be squeezing about 260 horsepower from the turbocharger 2.0-liter four-banger. These days that’s not too hard to imagine. Also added to the hot hatch supposedly will be a sport-tuned suspension, chassis reinforcements, active dampers and a high-capacity cooling system.

If that’s not hot enough, the report also claims a more potent version of the i30N will be coming. It should pump out more power (hopefully over 300 horsepower), plus be outfitted with a limited-slip diff and big brakes. It’s always nice to have a car that’s not only powerful, but also well-balanced (I’m looking at you, MazdaSpeed3).

Before you just laugh off this news about Hyundai, know that it means business. The guy at the head of the N-division is none other than Albert Biermann. If that doesn’t ring a bell, just know he used to be in charge of development for BMW’s M cars.