2018 Hyundai i30 Fastback breaks cover

The new Hyundai i30 N hot hatch has only just been revealed in production form, and already Hyundai has given us more to look forward to.

A slinky coupe-styled version of the Hyundai i30, called the i30 Fastback, was unveiled alongside its punchy hatch sibling.

6

First teased as a silhouette by the Korean brand, and spied testing under heavy camouflage, the i30 Fastback brings a swooping roofline to the family.

From the front, the i30 Fastback looks much like any of its hatch siblings, but the side profile adds the distinctive roofline and extra junk in the trunk.

6

The Czech-built Fastback sits 30mm lower than the hatch, with all the height being lopped out of the vehicle’s glasshouse, but has 115mm of extra length aft of the rear wheels.

Engine options are currently restricted to the same array as the i30 hatch, including the 102kW 1.4-litre turbo petrol, but the Koreans have made some promising noises about developing an N version, with the same 202kW engine from the hot hatch under the bonnet, and it’s that car that is expected to come to Australia.

6

Hyundai claim the Fastback has a sportier stance than the hatch, with 5mm lower springs, and a 15 percent increase in stiffness. “The i30 Fastback is the first elegant five-door coupe to enter the compact segment, underlining our commitment to innovation and customer choice,” Hyundai Europe COO Thomas Schmid said at the launch event in Germany.

Tech? Well, as you would expect it is much the same as its i30 siblings. Auto-emergency braking, active cruise control, and lane keep assist are all available.

6

Unfortunately, it is unlikely any ‘regular’ i30 Fastbacks will be coming to Australian shores due to production restrictions at the European factory. Don’t be too sad however, as our demand for performance models should put us high on Hyundai’s priority list for an N version.

6