IT’S ONLY THE BEGINNING…
There’s plenty to come from Hyundai’s N-badged performance line. Besides an N version of the second-gen Veloster coupe ( set to debut the N brand in the US), there’s also a dual-clutch under development, which will be crucial to the i30 N’s sales success. “We’re working on a nice eight-speed wet dual-clutch, but that’s maybe something we can offer in two years or so,” said Hyundai’s high-performance development head, Albert Biermann. But what about an even more hardcore AWD version? “I think first of all we’d need more power – significantly more power – and then AWD I think is needed. And right now, we have no decision to do that. We have test cars having more power, having AWD, and we’re working on it, but there’s no decision to do such a car.”