Hyundai has been spotted near the Nurburgring testing what could be a hot hatch version of the strong-selling Hyundai i30.

ACCORDING TO UK publication, Auto Express, the Hyundai i30 spotted testing near the Nurburgring racetrack in Germany will be the first in a line of warmed up performance vehicles from the brand’s new ’N’ sub-brand. Details about the new hotter i30 are non-existent, and the car spotted could just be a test mule for the next generation i30 (due in 2017) rather than a hot hatch variant.

That said, Auto Express quoted a Hyundai spokesperson who said the i30 N would be built in small numbers and would be comparable to other hot hatches in its segment, most likely cars like the Ford Focus ST and Volkswagen Golf GTI. Speculation suggests the i30 N would use a variant of the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine in the current i30 Turbo.

The i30 spotted in this pic wears a bigger bodykit and seems to be wearing alloys off the Kia Pro_cee’d GT.

Is a hot hatch Hyundai i30 a good idea, and would you buy one over more traditional hot hatches, like the VW Golf GTI?

We have an i30 on long term test (a diesel, not the hot one!)