Hyundai is about to join the four-door coupe club with the all-new i30 Fastback. Sitting alongside the standard 5-door hatch in the i30 range the new Fastback will be launched at the beginning of 2018, sharing the hatch’s chassis and drivetrain, but in a sleek new body.
Sharing the same basic architecture from the A-pillar forward, the Fastback trades the standard car’s boxy rear end for a long sloping roofline and a neat, compact tail. To accentuate the tail and give the Fastback a sportier silhouette, Hyundai has integrated a large lip spoiler into the design, as well as a set of sleek LED tail lights.
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Sitting 30mm lower than the hatch, it is likely to have compromised rear headroom, but boot space should see a significant jump thanks to an extra 115mm of length behind the rear wheels. Inside is the same grown-up interior and easy-to-use infotainment system.
Hyundai has correspondingly upgraded the chassis, with 5mm lower springs and a stiffness increase of 15 per cent. Engine choices will mirror the standard car with a combination of 1 and 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engines and a new 1.6-litre turbo diesel. If you were hoping for the adoption of the new i30 N’s 272bhp 2-litre you might be disappointed to know that Hyundai has not mentioned anything on the topic.
Due to go on sale across Europe at the beginning of 2018, the i30 Fastback will likely carry a slight price premium over the standard hatchback.
