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Our next automotive adventure takes us to the tip of Scotland, where evo Deputy Editor Adam Towler and evo Contributor Steve Sutcliffe head to the North Coast 500, a collection of roads that frame the wild landscape between Inverness, John o'Groats and Applecross. This is no place for a wide, low supercar though, rather one of our favourite hot hatchbacks, the Hyundai i30 N. Visit www.evo.co.uk for more performance car reviews and news Read our Hyundai i30 Fastback N review here https://www.evo.co.uk/reviews/22145/hyundai-i30-fastback-n-review-is-it-as-good-as-the-i30-n-hatch
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0:00
The North Coast 500. Think of it as effectively one lap around the very top of Scotland
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A tour of the Highland coastline that takes in some of the most spectacular scenery to be found anywhere on the planet
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And some of the best driving roads that you could ever hope to discover
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Launched as a tourism concept only in recent years, the 500 begins and ends near the city of Inverness
0:44
Somewhat surprisingly, my esteemed colleague Steve Sutcliffe has never been. And I detect doesn't really see what all the fuss is about
0:53
Oh dear Steve, we need to change that right away and show everyone why this is a must-visit destination for any driving enthusiast
1:03
So, Steve will head northwards first, tracking the eastern coastline before going across the top and then down
1:11
On the other hand, I'll head west before turning northwards, past Gerloch and Olapil
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and we'll then meet halfway on the iconic and highly distinctive Kailescu Bridge
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built at a cost of £4 million and opened in 1984 by the Queen
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Taking on the challenge of this incredible road in a hot hatch like this one
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well, it does actually make a lot of sense. Now, much of the route, particularly towards the beginning and around the top
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is made up of far sweeping A roads and the surface isn't that great
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you get potholes and gravel as well from the erosion over the harsh winters
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A hot hatch, responsive, agile, compact in size is a really good blend of qualities
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that works all the way along the route. So I'm still not absolutely sure why Adam has insisted that I come all the way up to the north
2:11
the coast of Scotland but he promises me that this road is spectacular
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So far I haven't found it that spectacular but the really good bits are to come I gather
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Right wait for it wait for it just round this corner and now
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This is why I've brought Steve here. This is what the North Coast 500 is all about
2:43
Just magical. it's my belief that the best of the route is the western side lush landscapes and brilliant roads
3:01
replaced by wild mountainous areas the further north you go and eventually becoming narrow
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coastal lanes around the top western corner earlier on you have the choice to do what we
3:12
call the Applecross Loop, a narrow mountain pass, unsuitable perhaps for a wide car and busy
3:18
in holiday season. But the views are incredible and the road around the peninsula afterwards
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well that's not too shabby either. Oh, wow
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OK. OK, Adam. I think now I am beginning to understand why I've come all this way
3:58
Wow. Wow, wow. This place is pretty spectacular
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All right, it's a long way to come to enjoy a fast car on a fast road
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but my goodness me, this is a piece of road. Interesting car to drive on it as well, the i30n fastback
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It doesn't sell in as big a numbers as the regular hatchback
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I think it accounts for about 35% of sales. But I actually think it's the better looking of the two
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It's no different to drive. You've got all the same modes, same suspension set up, same everything basically
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It just is styled a bit differently. It quite cool because this car was developed on the ring we know that And this road actually feels quite like the Ring so as a combination they really work
5:15
Wow, what an amazing piece of road. Unbelievable, actually. Apple Cross Pass, a continuous series of left and right and left and right, awkward
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crests many blind and strange compressions but remember what I said
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earlier about a good hot hatch being a wise choice at times on this route well
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this is very much one of those moments I love that view I love that view
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One of the things I really like about the i30N, fastback or hatchback
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is its range of personality, which you can dial up and dial down
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to suit whatever road you're in perfectly. You never really want to use N-Mode on the road, so you always want to be in normal mode
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to be quite honest, just to chill the suspension back down. But when you do come across a really nice, super fluid, super flat piece of road like
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this here, it's kind of tempting just to pop it into sport or even N-Mode occasionally
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And I think it feels fab that you can do that. The other elements that are just peachy about the i30M fastback, or the hatchback, the gearbox, the auto blip function, the brakes
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The brakes are really good on this car I think And the motor strong the chassis is brilliant the e is fab too It a pretty sophisticated piece of kit and you can actually feel it tightening the car cornering line
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and you've got to really commit to the throttle nice and early, but if you do, it really generates grit
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Not just on turning, but mid-corner and on the way out. It works beautifully, the E-DIF in this car
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So how did you get on, Steve
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pretty awesome I have to admit the first section isn't that great
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this direction but once you get onto this road like this I think it's about 50 miles back that way
8:38
flipping heck serious piece of road yeah well the good news for you is
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I really believe it just gets better when you go that way really
8:47
yeah I reckon well I think you'll enjoy going that way mate alright really
8:51
it's pretty special around here isn't it I told you I just want to say thank you for bringing me all the way up here
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you know I was pretty cynical about coming all the way up here no worries
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these things are pretty good as well aren't they yeah it's just it's a really good hot hatch
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and that suits this road just really matches it well just a nice sweet blend of performance and grit and all that stuff
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without going absolutely ballistic yeah proper hot hatchbacks aren't they yeah exactly agreed yeah
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proper road too yeah all right enjoy that bit I'll enjoy this bit enjoy
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cheers mate see ya Coming to this part of Scotland never disappoints
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The roads, the scenery, the warm welcome. The North Coast 500 remains a road trip you have to do at least once, wherever you come from
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