BBC_Top_Gear_South_Africa_June_2017
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“I Pantone match my<br />
accessories”. Thierry and<br />
Stephen talk fashion<br />
The i30 N is more serious than you think<br />
We head to Lapland not to see Santa’s sleigh but a hotted-up Hyundai...<br />
H<br />
owlairyshouldahothatchbe?This<br />
isthequestionHyundaiiscurrently<br />
pondering. Specifically its stability<br />
controlengineers,whoaretucked<br />
up in Arjeplog in deepest, snowiest Sweden.<br />
We’vejoinedthemforadayoftestingthenewi30<br />
N,theKoreancompany’sfirstbonafidehothatch.<br />
Thecaryouseehereisproper.Stillfrontdrive,butwithitssuspensioncomponents<br />
refreshed,andnew,bigbrakesupfront.Plusan<br />
ESCsystemthat’sundergoing very thoughtful<br />
development.<br />
“Turnthesystemoffandyoucanplayas<br />
muchasyoulike–thedrivermustcatchit,”says<br />
AlexanderEichler,headofHyundai’sfastcar<br />
development. “It’s important to have a real ‘off’<br />
mode;manyofourcustomerswantthat.”<br />
The car’s full reveal is months away, so<br />
Hyundaiiscageyonspecs.Buttherecould be<br />
twomodels,astandardi30Nanda<br />
PerformancePackcar.Bothgeta2.0-litre4-cyl<br />
turbo petrol, linked to a 6-spd manual. The<br />
former should have around 201kW, the latter<br />
around 216kW and with an electronic diff<br />
set-uponthefrontaxle.Expect0–100km/hin<br />
thelowsixesanda250km/htopspeedforboth.<br />
OurprototypeisaPerformancePackcar,<br />
and first impressions are positive. The steering<br />
wheelcomesclosetoyourchest,whilethe<br />
huggingsportsseatfeelsniceandlow.There<br />
are shift lights at the top of the dash, and<br />
orange-to-red illumination around the upper<br />
Supportive seats.<br />
Manual ’box. Real<br />
handbrake. Job done<br />
20 JUNE <strong>2017</strong>
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