PARIS MOTOR SHOW: New Hyundai i30 gets racy

Hyundai already shown us the third-generation i30 ahead of its world debut at the Paris motor show next week, and now it has released a rendering of a "motorsport-inspired" concept version that will also be revealed alongside it.

Dubbed the Hyundai N Concept RN30, the pimped-out two-door show car is the most extreme version of the Korean car-maker's new volume-selling small car, which arrives here in the second quarter of next year.

It's not clear how many of its aggressive aero parts will transfer to the i30 N hot hatch, which is also expected to bow at Paris since Hyundai has already started a teaser campaign for its first direct rival for the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Hyundai says the RN30 was "born as a racing machine", "developed to deliver passion and pleasure on the track for everybody" and has a lower, wider stance to deliver "greater stability during high speed driving and cornering".

It was created by Hyundai Motorsport (HMSG), Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center (HMETC) and Hyundai Motor’s Performance Development & High Performance Vehicle Division.

However, the smaller i20 remains Hyundai's World Rally Championship contender and the i30 N production car will be a five-door hatch with a circa-200kW four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine driving he front wheels.