With each gasoline-fueled sizzling hatch that bites the bullet, the world turns into a sadder place. Stricter emissions rules have largely killed enjoyable vehicles in Europe, taking away fascinating pocket rockets just like the i20 N and i30 N. Hyundai’s man answerable for the N division is simply as disenchanted as we’re, calling the untimely demise of these fashions a veritable “catastrophe.”
In an interview with Automotive Journal, Joon Park admitted, “The discontinuation of i20 and i30 N was a catastrophe for me.” Manufacturing of Hyundai N’s rivals for the Volkswagen Polo GTI and Golf GTI within the European market led to February. Nevertheless, the recent hatches are nonetheless round in different areas similar to Australia, the place the 2 enjoyable vehicles even obtained a minor facelift final 12 months.
The Vice President and Head of Hyundai N candidly admits he’s “not the one that really actually likes the EV. I’ve at all times favored the scent and the sound and all these sorts of race vehicles.” In contrast, colleague Tyrone Johnson, Managing Director of the Europe Technical Heart in Germany, sees issues otherwise:
“I don’t perceive the concept that efficiency vehicles are dying. If you wish to go quick, there’s nothing higher than an EV. I don’t perceive the nostalgia.” He added that the majority gasoline vehicles had been “miles away – a disappointment” in comparison with the 5 N and that “no one desires handbook gearboxes anymore.”
A compromise is coming: hybrids. Joon says it’ll be some time earlier than electrified sizzling hatchbacks roam the streets, nevertheless it’s doable. The percentages of seeing a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine underneath the hood are slim, particularly in Europe, on account of “present regulation and future regulation.” The smaller 1.6-liter unit on the core of a hybrid powertrain has a greater likelihood of complying with more durable laws.
It’s unclear whether or not these electrified efficiency vehicles will retain a handbook just like the outdated i20 N and i30 N had, however we’re skeptical. One other quirky Veloster N can be extremely unlikely, contemplating manufacturing of the second-generation mannequin ended years in the past with no substitute in sight.
Exterior of the recent hatch realm, an Elantra N (aka Avante N in South Korea) with a much bigger combustion engine has already been confirmed, simply not for Europe, clearly. As for crossovers, there’s no phrase about Hyundai doing one other Kona N, both with a gasoline engine or as a completely electrical mannequin.
Whereas the main focus seems to be on sizzling EVs just like the Ioniq 5 N and the brand new Ioniq 6 N, Joon assures traditionalists that “we [Hyundai N] usually are not limiting ourselves to EVs.” The long run could principally belong to sporty vehicles with out combustion engines, however ICE will survive in some capability.
