Hyundai performs to high standards on debut

The South Korean car maker has never built a performance model before. Darren Cassey headed to Italy for its debut.

What is it?

The i30 N is the first performance model ever produced by Hyundai. It introduces the ‘N’ branding that’s been on the South Korean car manufacturer’s motorsport models for a few years now into the road car market. It’s entering the fiercely contested hot hatch segment currently dominated by the likes of the everyday-usable Volkswagen Golf GTI and Seat Leon Cupra, which it is priced to tackle head-on.