2019 Hyundai i30 N Fastback spied
Sporty four-door snapped at the Nurburgring
The upcoming Hyundai i30 N Fastback has been spotted again this week doing rounds at the famed Nurburgring in Germany.
For the first time the four-door i30 has dropped the heavy black sheeting and false body panels concealing most of its design details, giving us a closer peek at the final look – despite the black-and-white wrap.
As expected, the i30 N Fastback mixes the body of the standard Fastback with the more aggressive styling treatments of the N hatchback, including a similar front end, along with the same 19-inch alloy wheels and large brake package.
Compared to the hatchback, the Fastback features a sloping roofline from the B-pillar back, extending into a coupe-like rump that wouldn't look out of place on a two-door Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Dual tailpipes protrude from the rear diffuser, just like the hatchback, and there looks to be a more aggressive bootlid spoiler than the standard version.
It's almost certain the i30 N Fastback will be powered by the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine as the hatchback, offered in two tunes globally – 184kW and 202kW versions are offered overseas currently, though Australia only gets the high-output 'Performance'-spec at the moment – though both make 353Nm of torque (378Nm on overboost).
A mechanical limited-slip front differential should be reserved for the high-output version as per the hatchback, while launch variants should only be offered with a six-speed manual transmission – a new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic is being prepared for late-2019.
The Performance variant, like the hatchback, will also get a bi-modal exhaust system – which we know sounds the business – while lower-spec versions will get smaller 18-inch alloys with chubbier tyres.
Like the standard i30 Fastback, the four-door N will be produced at the company's Czech production facility in Europe, and should make its official debut sometime later this year – potentially at the Paris motor show in October.
Australia
While the core versions of the i30 Fastback (above) won't be offered locally due to their European production schedule, the N Fastback has been earmarked as 'likely' for our market.
Sure, that sounds promising – considering the N hatchback comes from the same factory – but it's a downgrade from the local arm's previous "locked in" statement it gave originally.
Click the photos tab for more images
MORE: Hyundai i30 Fastback coverage
MORE: Hyundai i30 N coverage
MORE: Hyundai i30 news, reviews, comparisons and video
MORE: Everything Hyundai