In amongst the sundry normal characteristics that get overhauled in a facelift, there's some interesting news from the refreshed Hyundai i30 range - the line-up will be topped by a new 186hp Turbo version.
Exterior
The i30 Turbo replaces the old 1.6 GDI model and this warm hatch can be had in either three- or five-door guises (but not, sadly, as a Tourer). It has a range of new paint finishes, plus a colour exclusive to the Turbo, which is Jet Black. The Turbo gets its own radiator grille, revised front and rear bumpers with red highlights, altered LED front lights, twin exhausts and 18-inch alloys.
Interior
Slightly jazzier treatment inside than in the standard i30, with the Turbo benefitting from sports front seats, a sports instrument cluster and red detailing on the steering wheel, gear knob and door trims.
Mechanicals
It uses a 1.6-litre GDI turbocharged petrol engine making 186hp at 5,500rpm and 265Nm of torque from 1,500- to 4,500rpm. It is capable of flinging the i30 Turbo from 0-100km/h in 8.0 seconds and on to 219km/h. The i30 Turbo gets sports suspension and a 2.78 turns lock-to-lock steering rack to make it sportier to drive.
Anything else?
It is perhaps remiss of us to focus on the Turbo at the expense of the rest of the revised range, which is undergoing a midlife facelift having been launched in 2012. The i30 receives a new hexagonal grille, fresh 16- and 17-inch alloy wheels, three additional exterior colours and a raft of EU6-compliant engines (two diesel, three petrol - including the Turbo GDI as outlined above) making between 100- and the Turbo's 186hp, with CO2 emissions as low as 92g/km. All of this means the i30 is a more appealing proposition than ever. You can also have it with a new, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Irish market details have yet to be released - and we don't yet know if the i30 Turbo will be offered for sale here.