Hyundai’s Golf GTI-rivalling i30 N in the firing line

Having made its debut five years ago as the first model from its then newly created N performance division, a new report from Australia has alleged that Hyundai won’t be renewing the i30 N for a second generation once the current model’s lifecycle comes to an end.

Euro 7 making justification tough

Updated in September two years ago, but officially unveiled in July 2017 as the flagship version of the third generation i30, a model never offered locally in standard guise, the reported reasoning stems from the looming Euro 7 emissions regulations favouring electric vehicles and popularity of SUVs relative to hatchbacks.

“In other areas [of the world], it’s not so easy. With Euro 7 regulations, you can imagine it’s a little bit more challenging,” former Hyundai N boss, now company technical advisor, Albert Biermann, told Australia’s drive.com.au.

ALSO READ: Golf GTI or Hyundai i30 N? It’s a head over heart decision

Sedan to continue?

More hopeful was Biermann on the prospects of models outside of Europe, including the Elantra N sold as the i30 N Sedan Down Under, continuing without electrical assistance until a fundamental change in legislation takes hold before 2030.

The former head of BMW’s M division, who joined Hyundai in 2017 as a key part of setting-up the N brand, also admitted that an all-electric replacement for the i30 N is being looked into with speculation pointing to it being possibly based on the Ioniq 5.

“It could be a hatchback then, but it might take some time to get there, to get it right,” Biermann said, before remarking of a next generation Elantra N/i30 N Sedan, “at least when I checked the other engine, everything fits in [the next-generation i30 Sedan] without big drama and [a new i30 Sedan N] is in the long-range plan already in there.”

Back in 2020, it was reported that the next generation of N models could be earmarked for a new 2.3-litre turbocharged engine in place of the current 2.0-litre or even the bigger 2.5 offered in various other Kia and Hyundai models, which now appears unlikely to materialise.

Until an official announcement is made, both models continue, but with the mentioned Euro 7 regulations set to be imposed in 2025, expect Hyundai to possibly withdraw the i30 N from Europe before then.

For now, the i30 N continues in South Africa alongside the Kona N as the sole N models available due to the slowdown in sedan sales being the reason attributed to the Elantra N/i30 N Sedan not being available and a manual gearbox as the reasoning why the market cannot have the i20 N.