A representative of the Korean brand confirmed to CarScoops that production of the i20 N and i30 N ended in February. The reason is prosaic: Hyundai intends to offer customers a zero-emission range by 2035, and as part of this strategy, powerful petrol models have been cut. The only “charged” Hyundai is the 650-horsepower electric car Ioniq 5 N.
The life cycle of petrol hot hatches has ended ahead of schedule, although the i20 N has been in production for three years, and the i30 N was restyled in 2020. Both Hyundai N models sold well in Europe, because the filling was “driver-friendly”: turbo engines were combined with a manual transmission and front-wheel drive. It’s interesting that in other regions, fuel-charged Hyundais are not in any danger.
In particular, the Elantra N sedan will continue to be sold in North America. Last year, the Kona N crossover was excluded from the range, and the Ioniq 5 N electric car is not yet offered overseas. In a statement, the Korean brand said that the Hyundai N sub-brand “will develop as a pioneer of high-performance electric vehicles,” although the gasoline division has not yet been completely closed.
In Russia, only the pre-restyling i30 N was officially sold, and now “charged” Hyundai models are not imported into the country for obvious reasons. However, Russians will not be left completely without Korean cars: production of Hyundai Solaris and Creta, as well as Kia Rio and Rio X has resumed at the plant in St. Petersburg, but now “state employees” will be sold under the Solaris brand.
Hyundai Elantra N and 6 more “hot” four-doors
