New Hyundai i30 Fastback N joins burgeoning performance line-up

Ahead of its official premiere at the Paris Motor Show, Hyundai has unveiled its new i30 Fastback N. Building on the success of the i30 N hatch, the Fastback offers all of that car’s performance credentials wrapped up in a sleek, coupe-like ‘Fastback’ shell.

Boasting four doors and a large, 450-litre boot, the i30 Fastback N definitely has practicality on its side, but Hyundai also claims it’s a more elegant and sophisticated alternative for those who don’t want a hatchback.

There are familiar design cues lifted from the hatchback, including the aggressive front grille and bumper treatment, dual tailpipes and triangular foglamps. Unique to the Fastback is a gloss black boot spoiler.

Inside it’s much the same story, with familiar N styling tweaks. An exclusive steering wheel with red stitching features, and that carries over to the gear shift and the seats. Equipment is as generous as you might expect from Hyundai, with all cars receiving an eight-inch touchscreen display with navigation, Apple Carplay and Android Auto and a full suite of safety equipment including autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist and high beam assist.

Mechanically, the Fastback is similar to the N hatchback. The UK will only get the 271bhp Performance model, eschewing the entry-level 247bhp model. This endows it with a 0-60mph sprint of just 5.9 seconds.

There have been a few tweaks underneath, with adjustments to the anti-roll bars and suspension to give the car a little more comfort – though Hyundai insists the changes won’t affect handling.

Hyundai has not revealed how much the i30 Fastback N will cost, but expect a slight increase over the Performance hatchback’s £28,760 starting price.