2022 Hyundai i30 Sedan N officially revealed, Australian launch due late 2021

The 2022 Hyundai i30 Sedan N has been officially unveiled, ahead of its Australian launch in the fourth quarter of 2021 (October to December inclusive).

The fettled i30 Sedan becomes the fourth performance car in an onslaught of Hyundai N models to reach local shores, following the facelifted i30 N hatch now on sale in Australia, the Kona N small SUV due around September, and the i20 N city-sized hot hatch expected in local Hyundai showrooms around October.

Under the bonnet sits a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine shared with the hot Kona and i30, developing 206kW and 392Nm in normal mode – with an available 'N Grin Shift' mode increasing boost pressure for 20 seconds, lifting the overall output to 213kW (from 5500rpm).

Drive is sent to the front wheels through a choice of six-speed manual or eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions, as per its hatch sibling – though the N Grin Shift overboost mode is exclusive to the dual-clutch 'box.

MORE: 2021 Hyundai i30 N hatch price and specs

Hyundai quotes a 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.3 seconds in the DCT – the quickest of any N model to date, surpassing the i30 N hatch's 5.4-second claim – towards a top speed of 250km/h.

Helping to channel drive to the tarmac is an electronically-controlled limited-slip front differential, routing drive through 19-inch alloy wheels (with 245mm Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, the widest of any N yet) and a trick Integrated Drive Axle, a technology derived from World Rallying that combines the driveshaft, wheel hub and wheel bearing into one unit, saving 1.7kg.

A pair of 360mm performance brake discs feature up front, with high-friction performance brake pads, and a unique cooling vent system to help keep the units working at their best on the race track.

Other performance highlights include a multi-mode sports exhaust system – enabling the i30 N's familiar pops and crackles, while reducing drone when idling in traffic – plus launch control, adaptive suspension, and variable sports steering.

DCT transmission-specific features include 'N Power Shift', which engages when over 90 per cent throttle is applied to minimise the amount of power lost during upshifts, and N Track Sense Shift, which detects when the vehicle is on a race track, and automatically places the gearbox into one of its sportier modes.

Revised front and rear suspension geometry aims to reduce road noise and improve performance, four-point front strut rings and rear chassis stiffness bars look to increase chassis rigidity, a new air intake claims to save weight and sharpen response, while a 'N Sound Equaliser' system pumps customisable 'virtual' engine sounds into the cabin, including some inspired by TCR race cars.

On the styling front, the i30 Sedan N builds on the lesser N Line with more aggressive exterior design elements, headlined by a blacked-out front end with a body-coloured contrast element and N badging.

Sporty sills with a red accent feature along the side, while at the rear there's a fixed rear spoiler on the boot lid, prominent dual exhaust tips, and a triangular reflector inspired by a Formula One car.

Inside, a pair of 10.25-inch screens face the driver, with the instrument cluster featuring an N-specific view with a central tachometer, and the infotainment system including an N application that provides data on power, torque, G-force, turbo pressure, and oil and coolant temperatures.

The system also incorporates a lap timer, with an 'N Track Map' function that records the layout of a circuit in real-time.

Front passengers sit in one of two seat designs: a standard item with reinforced bolsters, or an optional N Light bucket seat, which sits 10mm lower in the car than the standard unit, and features an illuminated N logo and a 50mm-slimmer seat back.

Leather and suede (with blue contrast stitching) adorn various interior surfaces, while the three-spoke steering wheel, gear shifter, sill plates and metallic pedals have all received the N treatment. A red 'NGS' (N Grin Shift) sits on the steering wheel of dual-clutch cars, joining two blue N shortcut buttons.

The 2022 Hyundai i30 Sedan N will go on sale in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2021 (October to December inclusive).

Local pricing and specifications will be confirmed closer to launch, though expect 'base' and Premium variants to be offered, with prices likely to start from $45,000 to $50,000 before on-road costs for an entry-level model.

MORE: i30 Sedan N news stories
MORE: i30 news and reviews

MORE: Everything Hyundai
MORE: All Hyundai N coverage