17:51 08-12-2025

Hyundai i30 N revival: a hybrid-assisted hot hatch returns

Hyundai may resurrect a gasoline-powered i30 N, with reports indicating development is already underway. The hot hatch would step into a space that has widened as the market for compact performance hatchbacks has thinned. This won’t be a pure EV: the next i30 N is expected to retain an internal-combustion engine, likely backed by hybrid assistance. For those who value a visceral driving feel but accept modern efficiency demands, the timing looks apt.

The first i30 N debuted in 2017 as one of the N division’s cornerstone projects. Its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine delivered up to 276 hp, and the chassis was tuned for circuit work, including an electronic limited-slip differential. In 2024, Hyundai discontinued the i30 N and i20 N, explaining a refocus of N toward high-performance electric cars amid Europe’s push to end combustion sales by 2035. Today, the N lineup is anchored by the Ioniq 5 N and Ioniq 6 N—an abrupt pivot for a badge that made its name on petrol power.

N boss Joon Park has previously emphasized that the brand isn’t confined to EVs and will follow Hyundai’s strategy of diverse powertrains. For the next i30 N, the company is considering either a strengthened version of an existing hybrid setup (a 1.5-liter architecture is mentioned as an example) or an all-new unit. Adding to the intrigue, Hyundai has been testing a new high-revving combustion engine in a Veloster-based prototype—an indication that engines built to chase the redline still have a place in a compact driver’s car.

According to Autocar, the i30 is slated for another update in 2026, with the performance variant potentially arriving by late 2026 or early 2027. Officially, Hyundai says it plans to introduce seven new N models by 2030, spanning combustion, hybrid, and electric setups. Taken together, the roadmap hints at a broader N portfolio in which the i30 N could once again play a key role—this time with an electrified twist.