Well, it was fun while it lasted. When Hyundai first launched the i30 N back in 2017, it upset the hot hatch establishment. Here was a brand that had never really made a proper performance car suddenly delivering one of the most entertaining, engaging hot hatchbacks in a long time.
It pulled the same trick again with the smaller i20 N in 2021, which turned out to be one of the most focused, raucous B-segment hot hatches since the old naturally-aspirated Renaultsport Clio.
Hyundai i20 N – front
We’ve known for a while that these cars’ days were numbered, as Hyundai has been very vocal about its plans to reposition its N badge as an electric performance moniker, and the i20 N was in fact quietly dropped from the UK late last year. Now, it’s official: in Europe at least, the i20 and i30 N are dead.
Hyundai confirmed the news in a statement to Car Throttle, which said: “Production of the ICE N models has ceased for the European market starting from February, in line with our commitment to offering a zero-tailpipe-emission line-up to our customers by 2035 and to operating 100 per cent carbon neutrally by 2045. Going forward in Europe, Hyundai is developing Hyundai N as a pioneer of high-performance EVs.”
Hyundai i30 N – rear
We’ve seen the first fruits of this new direction in the 641bhp Ioniq 5 N, which by all accounts is one of the most convincing attempts at a proper driver’s EV yet. We’ve had a brief go on a stretch of unrestricted Autobahn and came away fairly impressed with its synthesised ‘gearbox’.
Regardless of how good the Ioniq 5 N may be, this is still difficult news to come to terms with as enthusiasts. The i20 and i30 N came seemingly out of nowhere to make Hyundai a brand that driving enthusiasts suddenly paid attention to, by prioritising fun and engagement over raw numbers.
Hyundai i30 N – interior
It’s a sad day, too, for the dwindling number of combustion-engined, manual-gearbox hot hatches on the market. By our reckoning, that leaves us with the Honda Civic Type R, Toyota GR Yaris, the ageing Abarth 595 and the Ford Focus ST – soon to die itself.
Hyundai’s statement suggests its hot hatch duo will live on for the time being in other markets, likely Asia. While they’ve never been available in North America, the Elantra N still is, and that’s effectively an i30 N saloon.
Hyundai i20 N – rear
The N version of the Kona crossover was also dropped when the previous generation ended production last year, meaning that in Europe, the Ioniq 5 N is currently the only N model available – although a hot version of the swoopy Ioniq 6 isn’t too far off.
Pour one out, then, for the short-lived but brilliant i20 and i30 N. In an increasingly complex automotive landscape, they showed us how much fun a good, back-to-basics recipe could be.
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