Hyundai i30 N Line revealed

HYUNDAI has revealed its i30 N Line in Europe overnight in a move that will offer i30 N-derived hot hatch visuals, but with only some of the performance bite to match.

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The car is expected to come to Australia, but Wheels believes it could wear an N Sport badge when it arrives here, if a trademark dispute between Hyundai and Nissan can be resolved.

Combining the visuals of the i30 N hot hatch with the drivetrain and suspension of models better suited t the school or shopping run, Hyundai is hoping the N Line will appeal to customers wanting more visual flair, but who don’t have a penchant for performance.

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The rear of the i30 N Line sports dual exhausts, while inside the cabin there are N-branded sport seats along with metal pedal inserts, a perforated leather sports steering wheel, and a gear shifter that also wears an N logo.

European buyers can choose between a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine that’s not available in Australia (we get the atmo 2.0-litre version) and 1.6-litre diesel version.

Hyundai says while the N Line misses out on the full-throated 202kW/353Nm turbocharged 2.0-litre engine developed for the firebrand i30 N, the new variants will have a livelier engine response and revised suspension for a sportier driving experience compared with the existing mainstream line-up.

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In Europe, the cars will be shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres as standard, with larger front brakes.