Hyundai i30 Fastback revealed
Stylish new liftback likely headed for Australia, but with a catchHyundai has revealed a stylish new i30 Fastback overnight, a “five-door coupe” understood to be Australia-bound – in some form at least.
Unveiled alongside the highly-touted i30N in Germany, the Fastback re-affirms Hyundai’s intentions to attract new consumers to the segment and build on the success of the widely acclaimed i30 hatch.
While its front end styling is largely similar to the existing i30 hatch, the tapered rear brings into play a heavily sloping D-pillar and liftback hatch structure that finishes with a pointed boot lid.
The revised styling means the i30 Fastback is 30mm shorter than the hatch, which will likely compromise rear headroom slightly. However, it is expected to be imbued with more boot space thanks to 115mm of additional body behind the rear wheels.
"The i30 Fastback is a real game-changer," claimed Hyundai Europe's chief designer, Thomas Burkle.
"We are the first volume brand to enter the compact segment with a stylish and sophisticated five-door coupe. When designing the i30 Fastback we played with the proportions of the i30 range by reducing the height of the Cascading Grille and lowering the roof line. The elegant silhouette is further emphasised by the generously arched rear spoiler shape.
"Our team was able to achieve a pure design, which combines the sports car spirit with the comfort of a luxurious sedan. With this innovative approach to compact cars, we enable our customers to make an expressive statement when driving the Fastback."
The Fastback range will be headed by a yet-to-be-revealed N flagship powered by the i30 N’s newly-developed 202kW/353Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
In keeping with the sporty theme, the N model will feature 5mm lower springs and a 15 per cent increase in stiffness.
Speaking with motoring.com.au, a Hyundai Australia spokesman ruled out the regular Fastback arriving in Australia, but indicated the European-made N version was almost certain to be sold here.
“The Fastback will be built out of the Czech Republic, so the business case getting it to Australia is difficult,” the spokesman said.
Hyundai Australia has also expressed some desire to take a new Veloster N, which will be built out of South Korea alongside matinstream versions of next year's second-generation Veloster.
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