SPY PICS: Hyundai i30 N Line spotted

Hyundai is about to introduce a new cosmetic package for certain of its models to provide a (visual-only) link with cars from its new N performance division.

The ploy follows the same reasoning behind badged and kitted versions of regular BMWs and Volkswagens; BMW's M Sport range and Volkswagen's R-Line packages borrow a lot of the visuals, but not necessarily the mechanicals, of the hotshot variants to add some extra street-cred to what is essentially a standard vehicle.

With its N division now open for business, in the form of the new 202kW Hyundai i30 N model, it appears the manufacturer is about to launch an i30 N Line package fashioned to exhibit the go, but not necessarily the show, of the lauded hot hatch.

And these spy pics of a spruced-up Hyundai i30 circulating on what appears to be Germany's Nurburgring race circuit suggest an i30 N Line is not too far away. To all intents and purposes a Hyundai i30 N, the car captured on camera is actually something a little more mundane.

This is attested to mainly by the right-side-only exhaust outlet, the discreet 'N' (for N Line?) impressions in the side skirts and the identically-designed, but apparently one-size-smaller wheels.

In addition to giving i30 buyers the option of adding a little more visual zing to their regular i30s, the N Line pack will be a reminder that Hyundai is these days a bit more than just a manufacturer of prosaic, mass-market cars.

It would not be too much of a stretch to predict that a series of visually-enhanced variants of other Hyundai models will follow the i30 N Line.

No dates are being suggested at present, but given that the cosmetic additions seen here are already on the legitimate i30 N, there should be nothing to impede the introduction of Hyundai N Line variants some time in the near future.