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Hyundai i30 N gets gnarly new 'N Option' in Paris

Hyundai came to the Paris Motor Show with a new "N Option" show car. It's based off the Hyundai i30 N, and is designed to give us a glimpse of what Hyundai's N division will look like in the future. While this car doesn't feature any powertrain modifications beyond its stock boosted 2.0-liter and six-speed manual transmission, Hyundai has thrown a book's worth of parts at it to make the i30 N look as racy as can be. It has a carbon fiber hood with air vents, carbon fiber rear wing, unique quad mufflers and rear valance design, lightweight 20-inch wheels and some super-grippy rubber. Hyundai used a special matte paint for this show car as well, with red accents sporadically placed throughout the car — we're definitely fans of that mean-looking snout. The interior gets lightweight N bucket seats in Alcantara. Hyundai covered the entire dash and steering wheel in the stuff too. The carbon fiber doesn't stop on the exterior, either; it appears on the dash, air vents, door handles and steering wheel. It has what appears to be a really cool-looking shift knob specially made for this car too. This hatchback takes the i30 N and turns it up to 11 in every way. We love it. Hyundai says it's launching this new N Option in the "near future," but it's not guaranteed to be exactly like this. We're guessing Hyundai is using it as a feeler to see exactly what it'll come to market with. Of course, the U.S. doesn't get the i30 N, but the Veloster N is coming. It wouldn't be difficult to imagine Hyundai giving the same treatment to its odd-numbered-door cousin. Featured video:

Hyundai and Rhys Millen reunite, will return to Pikes Peak with new RWD racer, Genesis Coupe

Last September, Hyundai confirmed that it was exiting all of its motorsports programs in North America. That left Rhys Millen Racing without a title sponsor for its Formula Drift and Global RallyCross Championship series challengers. It also looked to have meant the end of a partnership that last year resulted in a record-setting run at Pikes Peak when Rhys Millen established the new benchmark for a run up the Colorado mountain in a production-based race car.
Hyundai clarified that September report by saying it was "reconsidering our continued involvement in Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, having achieved the world record in a Hyundai Genesis Coupe this year." The return is official, with Hyundai saying it is going back to the peak with Millen and two cars, one of them a "purpose-built unlimited class rear-drive," the other being the Hyundai Genesis Coupe-based racer that set last year's record in the time attack two-wheel-drive class.
Hyundai wants to show off the strength of its engineering, so the unlimited car will have something like 900 horsepower and 800 pound-feet of torque while using the production block, cylinder heads, bearings and accessories of its Lambda V6 engine. You can read more about the effort in the press release below, and click the image above for an enlarged view of what's coming.

Recharge Wrap-up: Nissan UK battery plant, Hyundai EV/FCEV station

Hyundai has opened a joint hydrogen fueling/EV charging station in South Korea. Called a "Fusion" station, it allows customers to take advantage of both types of alternative energy Hyundai uses for its vehicles. The station in Gwangju began as a hydrogen station, and EV charging capability was added recently. While users will have in common the use of green energy to power their vehicles, it will be interesting to see if spontaneous debates erupt between drivers over the merits of the two alternative powertrains. Hyundai will now use the hydrogen fueling part of the station to study fuel usage. Read more at Inside EVs. EV charging company EverCharge is teaming up with Schneider Electric to provide charging infrastructure to multi-tenant buildings. Because of the limited electricity for buildings like apartments, condominiums and offices – as well as the fact that multiple occupants often share power – installing charging at such locations has been challenging. EverCharge's SmartPower technology senses excess or limited power supply, and uses it to charge multiple vehicles accordingly. The groups will use this technology along with Schneider Electric's EVlink Home EV Charger to provide charging services at these otherwise difficult locations. Read more at Green Car Congress, or at the EverCharge blog. Nissan will build fourth-generation lithium-ion batteries for the Leaf at its plant in Sunderland, England. The announcement comes amidst rumors of the automaker outsourcing battery production. The decision means that Nissan's $37.5 million investment will preserve 300 jobs at the plant. The factory currently manufactures second-generation, 24-kW Leaf and e-NV200 batteries, and imports the third-generation, 30-kW Leaf battery from Nissan's plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. "Today's announcement reflects Nissan's intention to remain EV leaders for many years to come, with our European operations at the heart of our future innovations," says Nissan Europe Chairman Paul Willcox. Read more at Automotive News Europe, and in the press release below.