Hyundai is killing its i30N and i20N hot hatchbacks

These models were very rare examples of first attempts being a breakout success. That’s thanks in no small part to smart hiring, with Hyundai bringing in ex-BMW M wizard Albert Biermann back in the early 2010s, to help conceive them to be the best they could be.

The i30N arguably stoked the 2015-2016 hot hatch renaissance, joining the Golf GTI, rejuvenated Honda Civic Type R and more. The i20N joined a couple of years later to grab itself a slice of the Fiesta ST’s pie, and grab it did. The thing was a tonic out of the gates.

So why is Hyundai killing them off? It’s not for lack of demand or praise. These are well-loved cars, both critically and commercially. Hyundai however wants to move more aggressively towards zero local emissions and these are, perhaps obviously, the smoggiest models in their lineup.

Hyundai’s official statement reads as follows: “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.”

While the i30N had a respectable eight-year run, getting a facelift and a dual-clutch transmission option in 2021, the i20 was sadly nowhere near as long-lived. Debuting in 2021 the i20N has been on the market for just three short years. Both, seemingly, will be lineages of one, with neither following an earlier iteration or set to receive a successor. Insert speculative future classic comment ‘here’.

So what is next for the N brand? Building on the good work of the i20 and i30 will be the Ioniq 5N, the first in a new-generation of hot BEVs that Hyundai has committed itself to produce. It’s quite a different beast to the outgoing hatches though, costing as it does some £65,000 and with more power than the i30N and i20N put together. Indication if ever it were so obvious, that for better or worse, performance cars are changing. Dramatically.