December 12th 2022
Hyundai fans have good and bad news regarding N models. The automaker plans to continue with the Elantra N for the next generation, but the i30 N will be ceased. The Technical Advisor Albert Biermann told this during an interview with CarExpert at The Bend Motorsports Park organised in South Australia.
“The i30 N is quite safe, at least the sedan version, so we will see the next-generation car with a new petrol engine, as it’s already in our long-range plans.” Please note that the i30 N Sedan is actually the Elantra N in select markets. The South Korean market calls it the Avante N.
The combustion-engine-powered i30 N hatchback might fade out, but not due to the company’s decision. It is primarily created for European countries where emission rules are harsher than other nations. With the introduction of Euro 7 rules in the future, Hyundai will stop production of N-badged petrol cars in some markets, according to Biermann.
“Other markets like Europe are dreaming, and there’s a good chance there will be no further combustion engine N cars in some markets with Euro 7 regulations looming.” It means Hyundai will also discontinue the Kona N crossover in Europe. The i20 N featuring a 1.6-L mill will live, though, according to Biermann.
“So the i20 N engine, the 1.6, of course, will survive – we use this engine in tons of applications, as you know. The 2.0-liter will basically phase out – the turbo – sooner or later, but I think we have a nice replacement available, not to all markets maybe, but with the 2.5 turbo, I think we can still come up with some nice powerful N-cars.”
Albert Biermann also told the media that the i30 N hatchback would be replaced by a zero-emission version; however, it will take some time. “If we’re talking EVs, then we could very well see an all-electric i30 N in a hatch body with our B and C-segment plans, but it might take some time to get there, to get it right.”
Right now, the company is working to finish the production of the new Ioniq 5 N, slated for 2023. We also heard that the lately introduced Ioniq 6 would also get an N version in the near future.
Source and Images: Motor1