SR previews hotter Hyundai i30

A sporty new grille and bumper has very neat integrated LED daytime running lights and front foglights.

A sporty new grille and bumper has very neat integrated LED daytime running lights and front foglights.

Published Oct 19, 2012

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Say G'day to the Hyundai i30 SR - a beefed-up version of the i30 Elite hatch that's on show right now at the Sydney motor in Australia.

Hyundai calls it a concept, but it's really more of a pre-production prototype, since the Korean carmaker says it will definitely go into production next year.

It has the direct-injection, 130kW/213Nm, two-litre engine from the i40, in place of the i30's regular 110kW/178Nm, 1.8 litre lump - that's about 20 percent more cojones for absolutely zero development cost.

HOT-HATCH STYLING

A sporty new grille and bumper with very neat integrated LED daytime running lights/front foglights, matched to a rear diffuser and special 17” sports alloy rims with machined faces, complete the exterior changes.

Inside, sports seats are trimmed in a mix of real leather and leather-look vinyl with red fabric inserts.

Will it come to South Africa? According to Hyundai SA, that depends on whether there is sufficient demand in larger right-hand drive markets such as the UK and Australia - which may very well be why the i30 SR is being shown for the first time in Sydney.

Here's hoping.

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