Hyundai Starts Testing Its i20 N-Based Hybrid WRC Car For The 2022 Season

Hyundai Motorsport has started testing its 2022 World Rally Championship car, complete with the hybrid powertrain that will be used under the new technical regulations.

Hyundai’s 2022 WRC racer is based on the i20 N road car and during this initial outing, the team set out to understand its behavior, plus its strengths and weaknesses. Current plans call for the car to be tested in a number of different locations across Europe to assess its performance in all conditions and terrains.

“It’s a special moment when you take a car to the road for the first time and as always there are some challenges to face,” Hyundai Motorsport team principal Andrew Adamo said in a statement. “In the case of the 2022 Rally1 challenger, we are starting from scratch with brand-new rules, a different concept and a new base model, the Hyundai i20 N. It was thrilling to kick-off the testing and to start this exciting new adventure.”

Read More: Hyundai, Toyota And Ford Commit To WRC’s Hybrid Future

“During last week’s session we have seen interesting things, some that need to be changed and improved but it is all part of the process and of the job. The team at Hyundai Motorsport has done an amazing job and has worked so hard to prepare the car for the first test in such a short amount of time. Of course, we are just at the beginning of a long journey but I do think we have interesting times ahead of us before Rallye Monte-Carlo 2022”, Adamo added.

From next year, WRC cars will feature a 1.6-liter direct-injection turbocharged four-cylinder engine coupled to an electric motor with 134 hp and 132 lb-ft (180 Nm) of torque. Feeding the electric motor with its power will be a 3.9 kWh battery pack located within a sealed carbon fiber housing. Toyota and M-Sport Ford have also committed to the 2022 WRC season.

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2021 Hyundai i20 N Wants To Conquer The Subcompact Segment For Hot Hatchbacks

Hyundai’s sporty N division is expanding its product lineup with its smallest and most affordable model ever: the i20 N.

Spied at the Nürburgring covering some fast laps and on the roads nearby acting all civilized, the subcompact hot hatch is in its final testing phase and, by the looks of it, the camouflage should officially come off in a few months.

In the meantime, the sporty body kit that will set it apart from the regular versions of the new-gen i20 remains hidden beneath wraps. Nonetheless, expect the usual makeover that will include bigger bumpers and side skirts, roof-mounted spoiler, model-specific wheels and sports exhaust system with double tailpipes, as well as tuned suspension and beefier brakes.

See Also: 2021 Hyundai i20 N Teased As WRC Driver Thierry Neuville Gives His Verdict

The interior will get a sporty makeover too, gaining front sports seats, N badging and probably exclusive upholstery combos, with contrast stitching and piping. The equipment list should include ambient lighting, smartphone integration, a wireless charging pad, a new infotainment system, digital gauges and more.

The i20 N will reportedly pack a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine that is estimated to produce in the region of 200 horsepower. It will set the front wheels in motion via a six-speed manual transmission, so don’t think of the i20 N as an alternative to the similarly-sized Toyota GR Yaris which packs 257 HP and an all-wheel drive system. Instead, the Hyundai will challenge the likes of other subcompact hot hatchbacks such as the Volkswagen Polo GTI, Ford Fiesta ST and Renault Clio RS.

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