Hyundai i30 N ushers in a new age of performance with Seoul

The Hyundai i30 N is based on what we know as the Elantra GT.

A high-performance 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder whips up 276 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.

More aggressive front and rear fascias drive home the i30 N's performance mission.

The i30 N was honed on Germany's infamous Nürburgring circuit.

The i30 N's cabin is dominated by a beefier new wheel and an 8-inch floating display, which details various drive modes and a g-meter, among other things.

An electronic limited-slip differential and an electronically controlled suspension should help on-track performance.

Headlamps receive black bezels.

Wheels are 18- or 19-inch depending on spec, and they're wrapped in performance rubber.

A variable-outlet exhaust trigggers "after-burn sound" when the drive mode selector is set to Sport+. 

A six-speed manual is the only gearbox available.

More heavily bolstered seats are a key part of the i30 N's cabin upgrades.

If you're not yet a master with three pedals, the i30 N will help you with rev-matched downshifts and a launch control mode.

Keep clicking or swiping through for more images of Hyundai's new i30 N.

The i30 N stops short of competing with Honda's Civic Type R and Ford's Focus RS... but who knows what the future of N holds?