Power by stage
Stage 1 and 3 are tuners' and turbo makers' published engine figures; the UK remaps are written for 99 RON. Stage 2 is Lap3's wheel-horsepower (whp) range for the Veloster N and Elantra N, which share the engine, and Stage 4 is a community range at the wheels. Real results depend on fuel, weather and the individual car.
Names with an arrow go straight to that part's product page for this car. Names in a dashed outline are other brands that make the part; exact links for them are being added.
Software only
+29 to +60 hpThe i30 N uses a Continental SIM2K-250 engine computer, which tuning tools read and write over the OBD port, with no unlock. UK remaps from Forge, Laird and VUDU claim about 300–340 hp, most of them on 99 octane; plug-in modules from RaceChip and DTE add 50–56 hp to the 280 PS facelift. Burger's JB4 and Lap3's tune list the Veloster N, Elantra N and Kona N with the same engine, but not the i30 N.
Typical cost: remaps £360–£599 (Laird, Forge, VUDU); plug-in modules €549–€689 (RaceChip, DTE).List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.
Stage 1 tunes compared
| Tune | Fuel | Claimed power | Claimed torque | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forge Stage 1 (2021 on) | 99 RON | 340 bhp | 460 Nm | +60 bhp on the facelift; the page also marks the item discontinued |
| Forge Stage 1 (2018–2020) | 99 RON (97 possible) | 300+ bhp | 440 Nm | Also covers the Kona N |
| VUDU Stage 1 | 99 RON (95/97 on request) | 315 bhp | 330 lb-ft | The page labels its dyno chart as wheel figures |
| Laird Performance Stage 1 (pre-facelift) | — | 310 bhp | 475 Nm | Developed on a chassis dyno |
| DTE PowerControl X (280 PS) | 98 RON or higher | +56 hp | +46 Nm | Plug-in module |
| RaceChip GTS 5 Black (280 PS) | — | +50 hp | +60 Nm | Plug-in module |
Recommended with Stage 1
- Intercooler upgrade recommended
Forge intercoolerWagner Comp Gen.2 intercoolerAirtec intercooler
In Forge's heat-soak test the factory intercooler let intake air reach 48°C against 24°C with Forge's, and the engine computer cuts timing as it heats. That matters more in a hot climate than the tune.
Intake, intercooler and exhaust
330–370 whpStage 2 adds an intake, a bigger intercooler and an exhaust, with a file written for them. Forge's Stage 2 claims over 320 bhp on the pre-facelift car, and Lap3 quotes 330–370 whp for the Veloster N and Elantra N with the same engine. European cars from about 2019 have a particulate filter (GPF), and no maker currently lists a catalysed downpipe for the i30 N.
Typical cost: Forge intake $571; intercooler $790 (Wagner), £613 (Airtec) or $1,080 (Forge); GPF-back exhaust £1,250–£1,675 (Scorpion, Milltek).List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.
Stage 2 packages compared
| Package | Fuel | Claimed power | Claimed torque | Required hardware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forge Stage 2 (2018–2020) | 99 RON | 320+ bhp | 460 Nm | Sport exhaust, intake, boost pipe, uprated intercooler and turbo inlet adaptor |
| Lap3 Stage 2 (Veloster N, Elantra N) | US premium fuel | 330–370 whp | — | Wheel figures; same engine, US cars; Lap3 recommends a high-flow downpipe and methanol or an ethanol blend |
Parts list
- Intake required
Forge intake
Forge claims 296 bhp with its intake and a cat-back exhaust, against the 275 bhp it quotes for stock.
- Intercooler upgrade required
Forge intercoolerWagner Comp Gen.2 intercoolerAirtec intercooler
Forge claims 307 bhp with its intercooler; Wagner's core has twice the factory volume.
- Exhaust (GPF-back) optional
Milltek exhaustsScorpion exhausts
Choose a version that keeps the particulate filter; both makers also sell filter-delete pipes, which are not road legal.
Upgraded turbo
400–500 hpStage 3 upgrades the turbo. TTE says its TTE490 has made 500 PS; Turbo-Total sells stages up to 350, 400 and 450 PS, and K-Tec lists hybrid turbos for 400+ and 450+ hp. Every one needs a custom tune, and at this torque the clutch or gearbox and the engine's connecting rods become the limit.
Typical cost: turbos €1,092–€2,520 before VAT (Turbo-Total, TTE490) or £1,995–£2,100 (K-Tec); Sachs clutch €1,126 before VAT; SSP DCT clutches $1,599.List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.
Turbo upgrades compared
| Kit | Fuel | Claimed power | Claimed torque | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TTE490 | — | 500 PS | — | Built from the facelift turbo; pre-facelift cars also need the facelift piping; software recalibration required |
| Turbo-Total upgrade turbo | — | up to 350 / 400 / 450 PS | — | Three stages; sold by Bar-Tek |
| KTR Stage 3+ (K-Tec) | — | 450+ hp | — | Upgraded Mitsubishi turbo |
| TurboZentrum Stage 3 (K-Tec) | — | 400+ hp | — | Hybrid turbo |
Parts list
- Upgraded turbo required
TTE490 turboTurbo-Total turboKTR turbo
Sold with, or tuned for, a file written for that turbo.
- Clutch or DCT clutches required
Sachs single-mass clutch kitSSP DCT clutch kit
Bar-Tek says the factory dual-mass flywheel cannot take much more torque; the Sachs kit is rated for 600 Nm. Hyundai publishes no torque limit for the N DCT.
- High-pressure fuel pump ethanol builds
Hyundai LF 2.0T fuel pump (Lap3)
Listed for the Veloster N, Elantra N and Kona N; it flows more and allows more ethanol.
Built engine
400–500+ whpOwners report that going much beyond about 400 whp needs upgraded internals, and built i30 N engines run roughly 400–500+ whp. KDM Tuners sells a build kit it rates for 700+ hp, and says a sleeved block is needed above about 600 hp. This is a community range, not a maker's claim.
Parts list
- Built bottom end required
KDM Tuners 2.0T build kitARPACL
Forged rods and pistons, with head studs and race bearings.
- Big turbo, fuel system and clutch required
TTE490 turboHyundai LF 2.0T fuel pump (Lap3)Sachs clutch kit
With a tune written for the whole package.
Questions to ask the shop
- Do you flash the engine computer over the OBD port, can I go back to stock, and what will a Hyundai dealer see?
- Is the figure you quote at the engine or at the wheels, on which dyno and on which fuel? Can I see before and after logs from my car?
- Is the map written for my version (250/275 PS, or the 280 PS facelift, manual or DCT), and do you adjust the DCT's shifts and torque limits?
- Does the setup keep the particulate filter and catalyst, and will it pass inspection here?
- What torque do you target? Rods are reported to suffer above about 500 Nm; which clutch or DCT clutches do you recommend at that level?
- How does the map protect the engine from heat and knock on hot days and track days, and what plugs, oil and service intervals do you want afterwards?