Hyundai i30 N, i20 N hot hatches dropped in Europe, safe in Australia with facelifts

The Hyundai i30 N and i20 N hot hatches have been axed in Europe – their largest markets – but will live on in Australia for the immediate future, a company spokesperson confirmed to Drive.

It will leave Australia as one of the few countries where Hyundai’s debut hot hatchbacks are still sold after the shock announcement was made overnight production of both models has ended for Europe.

Hyundai has been working on facelifts for the i30 N and i20 N – seen in spy photos and confirmed by executives – and while they will not be sold in Europe, Drive understands they are still planned for Australia and other regions where the cars are still sold.

“Production of the [petrol] N models has ceased for the European market starting from February,” a statement by Hyundai Europe to overseas media reads.

“Going forward in Europe, Hyundai is developing Hyundai N as a pioneer of high-performance [electric vehicles]. Our customers will benefit from technological developments that will make EVs even more attractive in the future.”

It is a surprise U-turn from plans shown to German media this time last year for a facelifted i30 N hatch due in October 2023 – and comments from former Hyundai N boss and now-company technical advisor Albert Biermann that an updated i20 N was due on sale in Europe in mid-2023.

Prototypes of facelifted Hyundai i30 N hot hatches were spotted testing in Europe as recently as November 2023.

While they will not be available in Europe, it is understood updates for the i20 N and i30 N are still bound for Australia later this year – though Hyundai Australia is yet to confirm its plans.

The regular version of the updated Hyundai i30 was earmarked this time last year for a European launch in September 2023, but it has been delayed and is now not due until April this year.

Drive has previously reported Australian arrivals of the updated i30 N hatch – which is expected to bring mild cosmetic changes, rather than more power – are due by the end of September 2024, pending any delays.

The regular model is due at the same time, which will now be manufactured in the Czech Republic alongside the European-market regular i30, as well as all i30 N hatches sold globally. Previously