The i30 N was an exciting and successful surprise, so expectations are quite high for the new Hyundai i20 N of which we are talking to you today, to which the same recipe as your elder “brother” was applied.
From the outset, the visual expectations that we had created around the new South Korean model are confirmed, with this one adopting a look that does not deny the inspiration of the Hyundai i20 that race in the WRC.
Thus, at the front we have a redesigned bumper with larger air intakes, a spoiler and, of course, the “mandatory” logos. On the side, the new sills stand out, while on the rear we find a new diffuser, a large exhaust outlet and a spoiler — which looks more like a wing — that doesn't owe much to the one used in the WRC.
Inside, the new i20 N features sports seats with an integrated headrest, a specific steering wheel and gearbox grip and details in the typical blue of Hyundai's “N” division. On the digital instrument panel, the tachometer's red zones vary according to the engine temperature.
What's under the hood?
Under the hood of the new Hyundai i20 N we find a 1.6 l four-cylinder turbocharger that produces 204 hp and 275 Nm, numbers that put it on par with the 200 hp and 290 Nm of the Ford Fiesta ST.
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Exclusively combined with a six-speed manual gearbox with an automatic heel tip, this engine allows the i20 N to propel the 1190 kg of the i20 N up to 100 km/h in just 6.7s and reach a maximum speed of 230 km/h.
Despite being present in other Hyundai models, in the i20 N this engine not only received a new turbo and intercooler but also comes equipped with CVVD (Continuously Variable Valve Duration) technology.
Dynamic (very) worked
As you'd expect, the i20 N's 204 hp is sent to the front wheels. To help them with the task of putting them all on the ground, Hyundai has not only equipped the sportiest of the i20s with a Launch Control, it also offers an optional mechanical locking differential (the N Corner Carving Differential).
Like the i30 N, the new Hyundai i20 N is also equipped with five driving modes: Normal, Eco, Sport, N and N Custom. N Custom allows drivers to select Eco, Normal, Sport or Sport+ specifications for various components.
Finally, still in the dynamic chapter, Hyundai reinforced the i20 N chassis at 12 different points, bringing new shock absorbers, new springs and new stabilizer bars. Added to this is a revised camber and brakes with an additional 40 mm in diameter.
When does it arrive and how much will it cost?
Equipped with the Hyundai SmartSense system, the new i20 N features equipment such as adaptive cruise control based on the navigation system, frontal anti-collision assistant with autonomous braking and pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane maintenance system, among others.
For now, both the price and the date of arrival of the new Hyundai i20 N in our market remain unknown.
When it reaches us, it's this pocket rocket that the i20 N will have to face: