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Hyundai's new sporty sub-brand, known simply as ''N'', looks like it means business. No fewer than three of its cars are scheduled to pound the Nürburgring this weekend for the 2016 instalment of the gruelling 24 hour race, in what amounts to a very public test of the manufacturer's performance aspirations. Last year's class-winning 1.6-litre i30 Turbo and a Veloster Turbo feature again, but the debut of a new 2.0-litre turbo petrol i30 is sure to grab the attention of hot hatch enthusiasts.
The car is built by Hyundai dealer Schumann, who have already built the aforementioned 1.6-litre i30 and Veloster racers and are based a short motorway jaunt from the Nordschleife. It's certainly a wild looking machine, with wide arches and gaping vents hinting at the potential underneath the skin. Around 40% of the car is new, including the gearbox and some suspension components, but of most interest is that new engine. The brief video released by the company hints at power and torque figures upwards of 260hp and 300Nm respectively, and the 4,250 flat-out kilometres during the course of this weekend's race will be a good test for all aspects of the powerplant.
Hyundai, like many manufacturers, already runs a dedicated test centre at the German track for reliability and performance trials, and it is here that the N philosophy of ''born at Namyang, honed at Nürburgring'' holds true. The 2.0-litre car carries #102 on the doors, and will be piloted by a team of four including the company's dedicated Nürburgring tester, Bruno Beulen. It will be interesting to follow how the new car performs, and to see just how much of the technology and performance filters down to Hyundai's road-going models.
The firm's return to the World Rally Championship with the smaller i20 model has already yielded a couple of wins, and success can only improve the breed. One thing is certain however, there's never been a more exciting time for hot hatches...