Don't get too excited. The i30 Turbo is not a 300hp Golf R rival and the i20 is not a sleek RWD two-door for battling the BRZ. However, they do represent a performance-oriented focus for future Hyundai models and that surely has to be a good thing.
This is standard, can we have a fast one?
Going from the spec sheet the i30 Turbo appears similar to the
Kia Pro_cee'd GT
, a car well received last year. Power is down slightly at 186hp from the 1.6-litre turbo with an identical 195lb ft. It's certainly on the mild side of the hot hatch spectrum (eight seconds to 62mph and 136mph top speed) and will rival cars like the
SEAT Leon FR
and Peugeot 308 GT. There is mention of a 'Nurburgring-tuned' chassis and we know how keen the Hyundai-Kia alliance is to make decent handling cars from
its test centre
. It should be quite good; what a turnaround when the media is expecting a decent hot hatch from Korea...
But there could be an even better one. The i20 coupe is a three-door version of the i20 supermini, designed specifically to be very different to the five-door. Looks quite sharp, doesn't it? For now the most potent engine is a 100hp 1.4 with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo due next year.
Warm rather than hot but there's promise
However, with the i30 Turbo's engine you would absolutely have a proper B-segment hot hatch. Exactly a year ago today Hyundai announced its
'N' performance brand
with its WRC entry. Where better to start than a 190hp i20? It would be more accessible than something based on the i30, tie in with the WRC campaign perfectly and enter a fantastically competitive marketplace. Imagine an i20 N taking it to the
Fiesta ST
Polo GTI
208 GTI
Clio Renaultsport
and beating a couple. That would be a story.
This remains guesswork for now, of course. All that has been confirmed is a warm i30 and a new supermini from Hyundai. But we remain optimistic about Hyundai's hot hatch future. Bring on 2015!