HYUNDAI’S first proper performance car has been revealed in production form, with the hugely-anticipated Hyundai i30 N officially breaking cover and showing off the most aggressive-looking bodywork to hail from the Korean peninsula since the Veloster Turbo.

And it’ll have the firepower to back up its taekwondo stance. The i30 N’s boosted 2.0-litre T-GDI turbo petrol inline four develops maximums of 202kW and 353Nm, ultra-competitive figures when lined up against the 169kW Volkswagen Golf GTI, 184kW Ford Focus ST and 202kW Peugeot 308 GTI 270.

Hyundai promises that “real enthusiasts” will be able to deactivate all stability aids as well, should they seek, in Hyundai’s own words, “maximum freedom”. That’s an encouraging thing to see in a press release.

The i30 N’s front crossmember is completely unique and features special suspension geometry and settings to help with crisp turn-in and maximum traction, while the rear multi-link is similar to an i30 SR’s hardware, but enhanced by unique spring rates.

The steering ratio is unique for both models, and the i30 N gets a rack-mounted rather than column-mounted assistance motor for better steering feel. Ride height measures in at 4mm lower than a standard i30 when the i30 N is rolling on 18-inch wheels, or 8mm lower when optioned with 19-inch alloys.

The press release also makes mention of something called “after-fire sound” when N Mode is selected. Prepare thy eardrums.

The tachometer’s redline also changes, BMW M3 style, depending on whether the engine oil is up to temperature or not.

Clothing it all is an aggressive bodykit featuring a gaping grille opening flanked by M3-style ‘cheeks’ on the outboard corners of the front bumper, with a large N badge screwed into the open-mesh grille itself.

Around the back, a sizable wing sprouts from the top of the i30’s tailgate and houses a triangle-shaped stop lamp. Underneath, the rear bumper hangs lower, features sharper contouring and frames a pair of oval exhaust tips.

The i30 N is Hyundai’s first concerted effort to offer a bona-fide performance product, and is the culmination of years of intense development – including 10,000km of driving on the Nurburgring Nordschleife alone, plus a stint in wheel-to-wheel competition at the gruelling ADAC Nurburgring 24-hour.

Local specifications have yet to be confirmed, but expect the i30 N to go on sale overseas around the end of this year with an Australian debut likely around the start of 2018. Pricing for the base i30 is expected to target the Golf GTI directly at around $41K, while the Performance Pack is likely to put it in the ballpark of $48K.