The Hyundai i30N Project C is already in Spain with a more radical configuration and a price of €51,350

The performance compact segment is pushing boundaries that we thought would arrive not so long from now. Vehicles like the Hyundai i30N show this: a model that has brought excitement to the market thanks to its good value for money, but which, at the last Frankfurt Motor Show, wanted to go a step further. The Korean brand’s stand was headlined by the i30N Project C, a much more hardcore and exclusive variant, as the 600 units to be produced confirm, of which only 15 will reach Spain.

Hyundai has wanted to flex its muscle with this special edition of its favourite child, with the aim of applying everything learned in the world of rallying to a car designed for public roads. This synergy is reflected not only in the Project C’s styling, but also in its mechanics, where important upgrades have been carried out.

Carbon fibre now plays a major role on the i30N, featuring on the bonnet, front splitter, side skirts and diffuser. The forged OZ wheels of 19 inches reduce unsprung weight by 22 kilos, a figure to which we must add 28 kilos saved thanks to the carbon fibre, giving the Project C a far more effective power-to-weight ratio than the standard i30N.

The cabin has also been modified in this very special i30, which is why we find several orange details, Sabelt bucket seats and a gear lever knob finished in aluminium. Not surprisingly, the real substance of the i30N Project C lies in its mechanical package.

Thanks to these upgrades, the Korean compact has a lower centre of gravity, allowing a drag coefficient of 0.32. These fine-tuning adjustments are complemented by the same engine fitted to the i30N Performance, namely a turbocharged four-cylinder capable of delivering 275 CV of power and 378 Nm of torque.

For now, its on-track performance remains unknown, but everything points to it being considerably quicker than the standard i30N despite the engine remaining unchanged. What Hyundai has made public is the price the 15 lucky Spanish buyers of an i30N Project C will have to pay: €51,350, a figure that places it level with the Audi S3 and very close to the Mercedes-AMG A35.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackHyundai i3012 versions · from 29,250 €