While there’s only one car in Hyundai’s N division portfolio, the i30 N (which will have its Australian launch delayed to 2018 instead of late 2017), there are plans for many more. The Korean automaker has been more than a little vocal about how much potential it sees in higher performance cars, particularly those derived from their existing line-up.
Currently, there is one car that’s shaping up to be the second model to join N division’s catalogue, and that’s a properly hot version of Hyundai’s oddball 2+1 door Veloster, which has been seen lapping the Nurburgring with increasing frequency.
Spy shots indicate the car will have a shape that’s not too different from the Veloster we know today, still keeping the obscured second-row door on the driver’s side and all the expected more aggressive bodywork and sporty bits that’ll lend it requisite road presence. Yes, and enhanced aerodynamics too.
The final car, due in 2018, and at least based on how the development prototype looks like, will also likely wear large 10-spoke alloys and feature some large-bore dual exhaust exists instead of the twin port design of worn on the Veloster Turbo. Cladding on the upper portion of the rear end also seems to point to the inclusion of a fairly prominent rear spoiler.
Hyundai has yet to breathe an official word about the Veloster N, as it’s purported to be called, but have said that the second model under the N banner will be arriving in 2018. In terms of its technicals, though, many of the components will be shared with the i30 N, including the suspension bits and powertrain.
Speaking of which, Autocar reports that it will indeed be housing a 2.0-litre turbocharged T-GDI petrol four-cylinder, as expected, but it will be tuned to produce more power and torque over that of the i30 N’s near-identical motor.
This would mean an excess of 202kW being sent to the front wheels for quite a potent little package, apparently enough to be able to give the next Ford Focus ST a good run for its money, which is expected to produce similar power from its smaller 1.5-litre EcoBoost turbo-petrol. A 6-speed manual could be the standard, like the i30 N, with 7-speed dual-clutch automatic to be an option.
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