NEW CAR: The Hyundai i30 N is Hyundai’s answer to the VW GTI and Civic Si

With the Veloster set to ride off into the sunset, Hyundai only has the Elantra Sport to offer buyers who want to have a little fun behind the wheel of their vehicle on the way to work. You can now add the Hyundai i30 N to that list.

The i30 range is known in North America as the Elantra GT, and the N version is a reference to the Nürburgring circuit where Hyundai (like so many other manufacturers) says the model has been tested and developed.

The Hyundai i30 N is therefore the sportiest version in the i30/Elantra GT range, and will be a new rival of the Volkswagen GTI, the Ford Focus ST and the Honda Civic Si when it hits the market. It will be powered by a four-cylinder, 2.0 liter turbo engine developing 250 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque.

The i30 N is the first model in a family of performance-oriented models to come with the “N” badge. For now, however, Hyundai does not plan to offer an N version of the Elantra GT in Canada.

But, you know, automakers tend to change their minds…