Hyundai has effectively confirmed small power and torque increases for its facelifted i30 N after a handful of British publications sampled prototype versions of the updated hot hatch.

When the Korean firm recently released the first official images of the refreshed i30 N, it said nothing about extra oomph, instead concentrating on the new option of an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (in addition to the current six-speed manual).

But a variety of UK-based publications – such as Autocar – have already driven the updated model (albeit in prototype form), with Hyundai confirming the turbocharged 2,0-litre, four-cylinder engine’s new headline figures.

The original model makes 202 kW and 353 N.m in its most potent form but, according to these publications, the mid-cycle update will see those peak numbers improve to 206 kW and 392 N.m. From what we can tell, the manual model’s 0-100 km/h time thus falls some two-tenths to a claimed 5,9 seconds. It's not yet clear how much time the DCT-equipped version will need to reach three figures.

The recently released shadowy teaser images suggest the facelifted front-driven hot hatch will gain new front and rear bumpers, revised LED headlamps (with V-shaped daytime running lights), a wider grille, fresh taillamps and larger (round rather than oval) tailpipes.

The Korean firm furthermore says the updated i30 N will ride on “newly developed” 19-inch forged alloy wheels, which are lighter than those of the original model (in a bid to offset the extra weight of the dual-clutch ‘box).

Original article from Car