Special Edition marks end of Hyundai i30 Fastback N

HYUNDAI Motor Company Australia (HMCA) has opened the order books for two months on its limited-edition hot coupe-liftback, the i30 Fastback N, and confirmed a starting price of $49,000 plus costs.

Order books for the extra-hot i30 close on September 31 and only 500 will be available. 

A one-off opportunity for N enthusiasts, HMCA told GoAuto that with the all-new i30 Sedan N due in the last quarter of this year, there were no plans to retain the Fastback N as part of its core N model range in Australia.

The incoming i30 Sedan N will also appeal to customers who want a four-door coupe design – like the Fastback – but with the added benefit of being built on a new platform that offers more performance potential.

“We’re not entirely ready to close the book on i30 Fastback N, there is always the potential for another chapter, but nothing is confirmed,” an HMCA spokesman said.

The limited-edition Fastback comes with all of the same upgraded hardware as the facelifted i30 N hatch, including more power – now 206kW/392Nm – thanks to a new turbocharger and intercooler, plus the long-awaited eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

A six-speed manual is also available.

Under the swooping body is the same redesigned suspension geometry and new spring, bushing and damper calibrations as the new hatch with the whole package rolling on strengthened, lightweight 19-inch forged alloy wheels.

The handling stakes are upped further by the ‘N Corner Carving Differential’ and Hyundai-bespoke Pirelli P Zero tyres.

Inside are body-hugging N ‘Light Seats’, a larger 10.25-inch satellite navigation screen and multi-media system, and wireless (Qi standard) smartphone charging enhance the in-cabin experience.

Hyundai said the engine gets a “flat-power” tune that boosts responsiveness and acceleration for even more fun by broadening the power and torque bands.

All 392Nm are on boil between 2100rpm-4700rpm, with the full 206kW coming home at 6000rpm. 

This all adds up to a top speed of 250km/h with the automatic version launching from 0-100 km/h in 5.4secs.

To help up the fun factor, the Fastback N has been gifted the hatch’s ‘N Grin Shift’ transmission mode which maximises power for 20 seconds. 

‘N Grin Shift’ access, and that for the other two modes of ‘N Power Shift’ and ‘N Track Sense’, are via a steering wheel-mounted button.

The ‘N Power Shift’ is useful when accelerating by reducing torque drop-off between shifts, while ‘N Track Sense’ recognises road conditions and shifts at the optimum time.

That’s not all: The limited-edition model has high-performance driving features such as a rev-matching function, launch control and an ‘N Supervision’ cluster with shift lights.

The umbrella control system is called ‘N Grin Control’ that gives access to five distinct driving modes: Eco, Normal, Sport, N and N Custom.

Each adjusts engine, suspension, electronic stability control (ESC), the ‘N Corner Carving Differential’ (electronic LSD), active variable exhaust, steering and transmission with the aim of optimising them for different driving conditions.

If that’s not enough, there is the ‘N Custom’ mode for selection of Eco, Normal, Sport and Sport+ settings for individual vehicle systems, to match their driving preferences and the road conditions.

The Fastback also adds bigger 360mm front brake rotors (up from 345mm) with red N callipers, complete with brake cooling air guides mounted to the front lower control arms.