Hyundai to Race i30 Hot Hatch at Nurburgring-24

Hyundai Motor Co. plans to run a souped-up version of its i30 compact hatchback at this weekend’s Nuburgring 24-Hours endurance race in Germany to help develop and promote the carmaker’s high-performance “N” sub-brand.

Built by the motorsport department of a Hyundai affiliate in Germany, the prototype race vehicle will feature 40% new content from the base i30. Enhancements include an uprated transmission, new wheels, wider bumpers, tweaked steering and a specially tuned suspension and dampers.

But the most significant change is a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that is expected to generate at least 260 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque, according to a dynamometer display shown in a teaser video. This compares with 183 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque for 1.6-liter turbo-four offered in the standard i30.

Hyundai says the focus at Nurburgring will be testing the hot hatchback’s performance rather than on how well the car finishes in the grueling event. The carmaker, which has its own testing center at Nurburgring, also will field near-production versions of the i30 and Veloster sports coupe in the endurance race.