A Hyundai i30 that sounds like a Mercedes-AMG A45? Or, gasp, even better? Hear for yourself because the South Korean brand has released a teaser video for the debut model from its N performance division.

The camouflaged Hyundai i30 N prototype pops, crackles and blares its way around a circuit in a video with a simple tag-line: “The sound of Hyundai N, designed for the joy of driving.”

Hyundai -i 30-N-rear -driving

There is important news for three-pedal fans, too, with the i30 N prototype utilising a manual transmission. Previous teaser videos have shown vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission – tipped to be an iteration of Hyundai’s current seven-speed dual-clutcher used in the Veloster Turbo.

Hyundai -i 30-N-exhaust

Hyundai has previously used its Veloster-based mid-engined RM15 concept to show off a new 2.0-litre direct injection turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which in that application produced 221kW of power.

Hyundai -i 30-N-front -driving

Although this i30 N prototype wears clothes from the current generation i30, which first launched in 2012, the production version will be based on a new platform set to debut underneath the next-generation i30 at September’s Paris motor show.