Hyundai announces track-proof warranty for i30 N

HYUNDAI has revealed that owners of its brand-new i30 N hot hatch can take their cars to track day events without risking their warranty being voided. Such is the Korean automaker’s faith in the durability and performance of its first-ever ‘N’ car.

That means guilt-free track excursions for the full length of Hyundai’s standard five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, as long as the events entered are non-competitive – in other words, not an actual race. Hyundai doesn’t even mind if you fit stickier track day tyres either – something most track junkies are bound to do once the standard Pirelli P-Zero HNs are smoked.

It’s an unexpected vote of confidence in the Hyundai i30 N’s ability to withstand punishment, and something that’s fairly unusual in the world of mainstream manufacturers.

“Hot weather durability testing was carried out in Australia over the summer of 2016-17 as part of i30N N’s global development program, with a number of mechanical and electronic systems verified,” Hyundai Australia senior product planning manager Andrew Tuitahi said. “This is a car that is very familiar with our country already.”

It’s also a car that’s very familiar with race tracks. Developed primarily at Hyundai’s engineering centre located at the challenging Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany, the i30 N is the first road-going product of Hyundai’s newly minted N Division, headed up by ex-BMW M honcho Albert Biermann.

Producing a stout 202kW and 353Nm (378Nm with overboost), the i30 N is Hyundai’s first tilt at entering the hardcore hot hatch segment, currently populated by the likes of the Volkswagen Golf R, Honda Civic Type R, Ford Focus RS and Peugeot 308 GTi. Unlike those cars, the bulk of which are priced above the $50K mark, the i30 N is priced from an ultra-sharp $39,990.

Other track-ready kit includes an electronically controlled limited slip differential to aid traction (crucial on the front-drive i30 N), downshift rev matching, electronically switchable dampers, launch control and a sizable brake package incorporating 345mm front and 314mm rear rotors. All are standard-issue.

The only glaring omission is an automatic option for the i30 N, though that’ll come later in the car’s life cycle.