Hyundai i20 N and i30 N safe in Australia

The Hyundai i20 N and i30 N hot hatches have been declared safe in Australia for the foreseeable future despite being axed from markets in Europe, where the i30 N hatch is produced.

Speaking to carsales at the national media launch of the upcoming IONIQ 5 N, Hyundai Australia product planning and development manager Tim Rodgers said the European announcement was actually good news for Australia because it would spell freer supply and shorter delivery wait times for two of the most popular N models.

“We’re probably actually going to end up being one of the only market that has these cars, which is really special for us and speaks to head office’s recognition of our brand power with N here and how many ‘Nthusiasts’ we have,” he said.

“We’re a really special market. Our N Festivals are next-level – no-one else globally does them – so I think, finally, global [HQ] is really, really repaying us, recognising us for all for all our efforts in N.

“Those nameplates aren’t dead yet, for us especially.”

Other markets with continuing access to the hot hatch duo include New Zealand (both), the Middle East (both) and South Africa (i30 N).

In fact, both the i20 N and i30 N have such a strong future ahead of them – in Australia at least – that they’re being treated to a mid-life facelift in the immediate future, with Rodgers confirming that production was transitioning to the updated models at the time of writing.

“Obviously because we’re so far away, that’s going to take some time to get to us, but it does mean that we’ll be ready to reveal those cars really soon – really, really soon – and we’ll have better timelines in the next few months,” he said.

“Our plan originally was towards the end of the year.”

Hyundai Australia public relations manager Guido Schenken has since confirmed the current i30 N hatch is now in run-out with no further factory orders being taken until the updated model is priced and detailed for our market.

It’s business as usual for the i20 N, meantime, with an average delivery time of three to six months on new orders, depending on the colour and state of purchase.

“But because we’ll become pretty much the dedicated market for those models, we’re going to have really healthy supply… we’re pleased by that,” Rodgers said.

Neither model is expected to be massively overhauled for their respective updates, with the changes largely set to comprise a cosmetic nip and tuck and a technology upgrade, likely bringing Bluelink connectivity as per Hyundai’s new-generation SUVs and Sonata, plus some driver-assistance enhancements.

Hyundai Europe recently debuted an updated i20 N-Line wearing new wheels, new grille mesh and some new cabin appointments to help it more closely resemble the full-fat i20 N, suggesting the new N version will also score a more aggressive grille, wheels and maybe a new lighting signature, based on what we’ve seen from the bigger models.

The i30 N, meantime, will score some new grille mesh and fresh bumper elements, as revealed by the wave of spy images out of Europe and Korea last year.

Rodgers said in addition to the freer supply of the i20 N and i30 N, their exit from the European market should bring an acceleration of the N brand’s electrification developments, products and innovations – not that internal combustion is going anywhere (outside of Europe) just yet.

Hyundai Europe’s recent statement regarding the axing of both models 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. Our customers will benefit from technological developments that will make EVs even more attractive in the future.”

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