Hyundai is serious about taking on the performance hatchback segment of the market and its forthcoming i30 N will gain go-faster parts in an effort to ruffle-up established offerings such as the VolkswagenGolf GTI and Ford Focus ST. While the production version of the i30 N is yet to be revealed, mules have been spotted undergoing testing. Here's what the i30 N could sound like!

The performance hatchback segment of the market is ultra-competitive and it's theGerman brands thatare currently the most popular. That's not to say the offerings from France, England and Italy are below par, it's just that Volkswagen Audi Group just gets it right more often than not. For a newcomer to break into this market, it'll have to be exceptional in all disciplines. It will have to offer a combination of attractive styling, luxury, modern connectivity andquick,agile performance. More than this, a successfulperformance hatchback must fulfil the roles of weekend performer and daily driver too. It's not an easy task, but the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Ford Focus ST, Mini Cooper S and Renault Megane RS somehow tick most of these boxes.

See how the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Ford Focus ST and Renault Megane RS 275 all stack up using our compare tool.

A while back we posted pictures of Hyundai's forthcoming i30 Nundergoing testing. While the photos don't give away much in terms of what the vehicle will look like, Hyundai has assured us that it will have the show to match the go. Hyundai says it will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre motor with 'at least 194 kW and over 300 Nm of torque'. There'll be an option of a manual transmissionand potentially, a dual-clutch gearbox. Those outputs put it squarely in the middle of the competition and it will be interesting to see how the newcomer fares.

Hyundai put out a teaser video for its new i30 N and the purpose of the clip is to showcase the car's exhaust note and soundtrack. Watch the video below to hear what the Hyundai i30 N might sound like.

Further Reading

Check out Hyundai South Africa's i20 N Sport.

See spy shots of the Hyundai i30 N