Production begins on the highly anticipated Hyundai I20 N, the most sporty version takes its final steps

Hyundai has announced one of the big news items many of us were hoping for: the start of production of its small sporty compact, the i20 N, at the Izmit factory in Turkey, where the i10, the i20 and the recent Bayon are also built. The new i20 N will go head to head with the acclaimed Ford Fiesta ST, the Volkswagen Polo GTI or the Toyota GR Yaris. It is a segment with enormous competitors, in which the small i20 N will make its presence felt and surprise more than a few.

The turbocharged 1.6 GDi engine, with 204 CV and 275 Nm of torque, means the new i20 N lives up to the motto with which Hyundai launched it: “ultimate corner rascal”, or in plain English, “the ultimate corner devourer”.

The powertrain is paired with a sport-feel 6-speed manual gearbox 6MT, the perfect combination for reaching a top speed of 230 km/h and a 0 to 100 km/h time of just 6.2 seconds, thanks to the launch control system fitted to the small i20 N, or the Rev Matching rev-adjustment system.

Styling in keeping with its performance

In terms of design, the new Hyundai i20 N has a very sporty appearance. Its sharp headlights, large grille with the brand logo and its N badge, and its black splitter with a handsome red line running along the bottom make the front the parts with the most character and personality of the whole.

Its side has sharp, pointed shapes that give it a very spicy profile. Also, thanks to the skirt in the same red as the front line, the 18-inch alloy wheels and the brake calipers with the N logo in red.

The rear completes the design with new LED lights, a rear bumper with a subtle diffuser, a considerably sized spoiler and a triangular rear fog light inspired by competition vehicles, in the style we already knew from its sibling i30 N, which, instead of being fitted as a fog light, was its third brake light.

The color debuting on the small hot hatch is the brand’s now-iconic color for its sporty variant, “Performance Blue”, which gives it great charm.

The interior of this small corner devourer features sport seats with integrated headrests, a sport steering wheel with a driving mode selector button (the i20 N offers five modes), metal pedals and an instrument cluster with a design exclusive to this variant.

Chassis and geometry tuned for an excellent driving experience

The chassis of this i20 N has been reinforced, and its geometry and suspension setup have been recalibrated specifically for the model, to deliver excellent dynamic behavior, especially in corners, also thanks to a new anti-roll bar.

To stop the 1,190 kilograms and 204 CV this i20 N carries, it features a new brake setup with 320 mm front discs, 40 mm more than the conventional i20 versions.

The i20 N Line, the sporty-design version with a less powerful engine, can be fitted with a 1.0 T-GDI engine producing 100 or 120 CV, which can be equipped with a 48 V mild-hybrid system that earns it the ECO label, with the option of a Smart Manual Transmission for greater fuel efficiency.

The arrival of both the i20 N and the i20 N Line is expected at our dealerships in early summer.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackHyundai i206 versions · from 21,520 €