Hyundai i30 N auto confirmed

Hyundai will placate buyers who find the i30 N a little too hardcore.

H-pattern haters can rest their hopes on an i30 N eight-speed dual-clutch automatic coming in 2019 we’re told.

Speaking at the car’s product presentation Hyundai’s PR director Bill Thomas confirmed there is a two-pedal option on its way.

“We have an eight-speed wet clutch DCT gearbox under development and we’re looking at a late 2019 introduction for that.

“That timing isn’t confirmed yet but that’s what we’re expecting at this point”

Hyundai currently offers a dry-clutch DCT in its SR models, however, its 340Nm torque limit is maxed by the i30 N’s outputs.

On overboost the i30 N partners 202kW and up to 378Nm exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission.

We understand Hyundai’s new automatic transmission meets its high-performance targets but engineers are focusing on bringing its efficiency and smoothness to the same level.

The upside to the transmissions delay is the standard i30 N variant or a fastback variant could arrive in tow, as senior product planner Andrew Tuitahi explains…

“We’re open [to bringing the standard car in] to it.”

“We’ll listen to feedback after launch. We’ll take notes from dealers and customers and see what kind of demand there is.

When asked whether the standard variant presents an opportunity to cheapen the entry price into a more complex and costlier DCT, Tuitahi says Hyundai has a different logic.

“Our primary thought is that someone who wants an automatic type of transmission maybe isn’t someone who isn’t so worried about things like the differential, the high grip tyres, the larger 19s and more aggressive hot hatch characteristics.”

This standard i30 produces 184kW and 353Nm, uses a front open-differential instead of a clutch-locking unit, and features smaller 18-inch wheels with Michelin tyres instead of Pirellis.

“Maybe it presents as a better every day driving proposition, but still capable of occasional fun that the standard variant packaged with the automatic transmission as an option.”

Hyundai Australia also made repeated mentions of a fastback i30 N variant to arrive in future, which has not yet been revealed, around the same time as the automatic.

We’re told the fastback will help Hyundai fill product niches much like luxury brands have done with highly stratified variant ranges.