There was a time when Korean automobiles were considered the butt of many jokes, but an invigorated portfolio and a stream of stellar products from Hyundai and Kia have changed the perception of Korean cars dramatically in the past decade. No longer content with merely making quality products, they’ve recently pushed upmarket with their new Genesis luxury brand and now previews their aspirations for a high-performance line of vehicles with their “N” models, starting with the Hyundai RN30 Concept.
Think of it as a preview for their upcoming Hyundai i30 N, a performance oriented version of their newly announced i30 (Elantra GT in the US). With plenty of racing DNA melted into the vehicle from their success in motorsports, the RM30 Concept will evolve into Hyundai’s first N model. The driver-oriented enhancements should make this the most exciting Hyundai to date, while staying approachable enough for it to be enjoyed by all effortlessly. Power is provided by a 2.0-liter turbocharged unit that produces 374 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque, and is mated to a wet-tyle dual-clutch transmission. Hyundai’s performance aspirations may seem ambitious, but with their recent track record of producing impressive vehicles, we may be in for another pleasant surprise.