FIA World Rally Championship driver tests the Hyundai i30 N on ice
March 31, 2017
The Hyundai i30 N, Hyundai Motor Company’s first high-performance model, has been tested to the limit on a frozen lake in temperatures as low as minus 30°C at Arjeplog, Sweden, by FIA World Rally Championship driver Thierry Neuville as part of its final development program.
Set for launch in the second half of 2017, Hyundai’s first N model draws on the brand’s motorsport experience and its fast-growing expertise in high-performance road vehicle development to deliver maximum fun on the road and on the track.
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Engineers at Hyundai Motor Europe’s Technical Center conducted the winter test on the edge of the Arctic Circle, focusing on the i30 N’s performance and handling characteristics, adjusting the set-up to ensure it will be a performance vehicle for everyone. The team worked with Neuville to develop and tune the i30 N’s dynamic systems, and to test the Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Limited Slip Differential (LSD), as well as the steering, dampers, suspension and tires.
“So many people have been looking forward to this car, so it’s a pleasure for me to be testing it,” said Neuville.
“The engineers have done a good job on the gearbox and the differential. There is good traction and stability in the slippery testing conditions and it’s very easy to handle. A normal driver should get a sensation similar to a race car.”
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The i30 N will be the third member of the i30 family, joining the five-door i30 and the i30 Wagon, which was launched at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month.
