Hot Hyundai i30 GT spied

Our spy photographers have uncovered a mysterious version of the Hyundai i30. Seen here parked up and undisguised, you’d easily be forgiven for mistaking it for the standard five-door hatchback. 

Look a little closer though, and it’s clear the South Korean manufacturer has been hard at work on one or two little tweaks. Aside from the sporty, five-spoke alloys, this i30 appears to sit slightly lower than normal, and features distinctive, round dual exhausts.

This suggests to us that Hyundai has fitted something a little more powerful under the bonnet than the current top-of-the-range 126bhp 1.6 CRDi diesel engine. The new flagship, possibly set to be badged GT, could therefore feature a turbocharged version of the 1.6-litre petrol engine already offered in the i30 line-up.

It probably wouldn’t take too much engineering either, as just such a 1.6 T-GDI unit already exists, offering either 184bhp or 201bhp, and has found its way into Hyundai’s own Veloster Turbo and both the three- and five-door Kia Cee'd GT.    

Supposing the i30 GT makes use of the less powerful 1.6 turbo then, expect 0-62mph to take roughly the same as the Veloster Turbo’s 8.4 seconds, with a top speed just north of 130mph. 

Alongside the revised underpinnings, which should include an updated suspension setup, expect to see the new hot Hyundai debut next year with revised styling, too, as part of a facelifted i30 range.

Check out our list of the best hot hatchbacks on sale now...