Hyundai’s all-electric Ioniq 5 N has gone down a storm with those lucky enough to test it, and it’s just as well. Because in Europe the drift-happy EV is now the only full N car in Hyundai’s lineup.
The Golf GTI-rivalling i30 N and its smaller sidekick, the i20 N, which competed with cars like the late, great Ford Fiesta ST, have been dropped as part of the Korean brand’s push towards an electric future. Both cars were well received, and the i30 N in particular helped establish both the N brand and Hyundai’s credibility in the eyes of European hot hatch fans.
The i30 N launched in 2017 with a choice of 247 hp (250 PS) and 276 hp (280 PS) turbocharged 2.0-liter engines, both hooked up exclusively to a six-speed manual transmission until a dual-clutch option arrived along with a minor facelift in 2021. That same year Hyundai set its sights on the more affordable end of the hot hatch market with the smaller i20 N, this one powered by a 201 hp (204 PS) blown 1.6.
Related: 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Is The Fun-To-Drive, 641 HP EV We’ve Been Waiting For
“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,” Hyundai told Carscoops in a statement.
“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.”
The news won’t affect Hyundai’s N activities in North America, where neither the i30 nor i20 is sold. The Kona N went off sale in the U.S. in 2023, and the Ioniq 5 N has yet to hit dealers, meaning the only hot Hyundai available in the country is the Elantra N sedan.
