What's the news?
If you absolutely adore the Hyundai i30 N (and you should do, because it is simply awesome), but you lament the fact that it's a bit underplayed in the visuals department, then this news from the Paris Motor Show should warm even the most recessed cockles of your chilly heart: Hyundai is going to start offering a range of extrovert styling parts for its epic hot hatch, under the 'N Option' branding.
Yes, that does mean you could end up with a 'Hyundai i30 N N Option Performance Pack', which is more of a mouthful than 'Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers', but just look at the end result. The Korean brand is playing it slightly coy at the moment, saying the N Option show car 'presents the vision of possible future N accessories' - although it does then go on to say that N Option will launch in the near future. That doesn't necessarily mean it'll be available on the Irish market, of course.
The i30 N Option in Paris showcases 25 exterior and interior individualisation options. Perhaps the most obvious is the huge rear wing perched atop the boot, crafted from carbon and wearing the 'N' emblem, but you might also have clocked the aggressive bonnet - also made from carbon fibre and featuring two big air vents. The N Option grille has a red character line around it, while those beautiful 20-inch wheels are lightweight cast items with high-performance semi-slick tyres. There's more: splitters, side skirts, a rear diffuser... oh, and quad exhaust pipe finishers.
Inside, there's lots of carbon fibre - it swathes the dashboard, air vents, door handles and the bottom of the steering wheel, the rest of which is clad in Alcantara. The upper dashboard and the stunning, lightweight sports bucket seats (with another red pinstripe) are also available in Alcantara, while sports pedals and a new, 'dynamic-looking' gear shift are options too, among other items.
Anything else?
"With our N portfolio we are shaking up the competition, and bringing new performance and emotions for our customers," said Thomas Schemera, executive vice-president for High Performance Vehicles and Motorsport Division at Hyundai Motor Group. "The development of our N vehicles is grounded in motorsport and our engagement there is the pinnacle of N. The new i30 N Line and our i30 N 'N Option' show car illustrate our dual approach to customisation, making N available to a wider audience."