Hyundai i20 N confirmed for Australia

Car maker Hyundai has revealed another performance weapon will join its award-winning i30 N hot hatch in Australia soon.

Hyundai is turning up the heat with its newest pocket-rocket.

The South Korean brand has revealed its new i20 N hot hatch will arrive in Australia early next year.

Based on the i20 hatchback, which is no longer sold in Australia, the pint-sized performance car will compete against the Volkswagen Polo GTI and Ford Fiesta ST.

Hyundai has confirmed it will bring its i20 N performance car to Australia in 2021.

The i20 N might be small, but it packs a powerful punch thanks to a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 150kW and 275Nm.

These outputs are even more impressive considering the i20 N weighs less than 1200kg.

Sales will be limited by the lack of an auto option, but enthusiasts will enjoy the six-speed manual transmission that drives the front wheels.

Hyundai claims the hot hatch can sprint from 0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds on the way to a top speed of 230km/h.

The i20 N will be manual only.

It says the i20 N is track ready, drawing inspiration from the brand’s i20 World Rally car.

The i20 N looks the part with its giant air intakes and plenty of sporty touches including red highlights, N logos featuring a chequered flag-inspired pattern and two-tone colour scheme.

There are also several aerodynamic elements including a rally-inspired rear spoiler and rear diffuser-like elements on the back bumper. A big single exhaust also gives a sporty edge.

There is plenty of safety and connectivity tech included.

Hyundai has packed the i20 N with plenty of usable sporty features including a limited slip differential to assist with grip, several driving modes including Sport and Sport+, rev matching for smoother downshifts and launch control.

The i20 N also benefits from grippy Pirelli P-Zero tyres and big front brakes.

But it isn’t all about the track days — there is plenty of safety gear including auto emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert.

Performance part promise a decent drive experience.

Connectivity is taken care of via a 10.25-inch touchscreen which is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Enthusiasts are catered for with performance driving data that monitors the driver’s track skills.

Hyundai hasn’t given an indication on local pricing, but expect it to be similar to rivals such as the Ford Fiesta ST at $36,000 drive-away.

Originally published as Hyundai i20 N confirmed for Australia