204PS Hyundai i20 N Unveiled, Will It Come To India?

The i20 N is inspired by Hyundai’s i20 WRC car

Update (05/11/2020):Hyundai has launched the third-gen i20 with prices beginning from Rs 6.79 lakh (ex-showroom). Read more about it here.

• Hyundai reveals first-ever N performance version of the i20

• It gets functional updates on the outside like side skirts, roof spoiler and bigger intake. 

• The i20 N derives power from a 1.6-litre turbo petrol that pushes out 204PS/275Nm, mated to a 6-speed MT. 

• The hot hatch also features reinforced chassis, stiffer suspension, 10mm lower ground clearance, 40mm bigger front disc brake and more.

• Goes on sale in Europe in Spring 2021.

• Third-gen Hyundai Elite i20 goes on sale next month in India.

As we brace for the upcoming new-gen i20 in India, Hyundai has gone ahead and unveiled a legitimate hot hatch version of the car. Called the Hyundai i20 N, it derives inspiration from the i20 WRC car and features a healthy departure from the regular hatchback inside out. Could we see it in India? Read on and you’ll know the answer.

The i20 N’s essence lies in its 1.6-litre turbo GDi petrol engine that puts out 204PS/275Nm -- and with the weight of 1190kg, it achieves 100kmph from a standstill in 6.7 seconds. The front-wheel-drive i20 N can clock a maximum clip of 230kmph. It’s paired with a 6-speed manual transmission and features launch control and mechanical slip differential that help increase track efficiency.

There are five driving modes: Normal, Eco, Sport, N and N Custom. They adjust the power mapping, steering feel, exhaust note and electronic stability control according to the designated mode. Other equipment that make it a performance tool include some self-explanatory goodies like a rev-matching activation button, brake pad wear indicator and variable muffle control. The i20 N’s witnesses a drop of 10mm in ground clearance, reinforced chassis, addition of an anti-roll bar and 40mm larger front disc brake over the regular i20. 

Of course, given the manic internal updates, Hyundai felt it right to dish out some cosmetic updates as well. These include an updated front bumper with bigger intake, N logo on the grille and lip spoiler with red accents. It also gets side skirts and rear diffuser with similar red accents to highlight its performance intent. Other bits include LED headlamps and tail lamps, functional WRC-inspired roof spoiler and 18-inch bespoke alloy wheels with N insignia on the brake calipers. 

It gets a palette of six colour options to pick from as well: Performance Blue, Intense Blue, Polar White, Sleek Silver and Brass. All of the previous colours get an optional Phantom Black contrast roof along with a full-body shade of the latter.

The all-black interior of the Hyundai i20 N includes blue accents all around and N highlights on the steering wheel, pedals and gear knob. A digital instrument cluster and 10.25-inch touchscreen with LED red zone (for finding that perfect shift) are present in the cabin. Safety is taken care of by a host of radar-based features such as forward collision detection, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert and driver attention warning system among others. 

It will go on sale in Europe in spring 2021. There’s no official word on its India launch by Hyundai but given that the goodies it packs, the i20 N is likely to cost more than double the i20’s top variant. Moreover, it’s probably going to come as a CBU, which will further push the prices up. Perhaps, what Hyundai could do is bring limited units of the car to India for select enthusiasts like Volkswagen did with the Polo GTI. Are you listening, Hyundai?

Read More on : Hyundai i20 on road price