Hyundai i30 N hatch orders close in Australia; i20 N still paused

The 2023 Hyundai i30 N hot hatch is temporarily off-sale in Australia.

Following strong demand, Hyundai's local arm said it would pause new orders until the current order bank is less overwhelming.

"To avoid customer disappointment, HMCA will no longer be accepting orders for i30 N (hatch)," said a spokesperson for Hyundai Australia.

"As soon as our i30 N (hatch) production allocation catches up with the order bank, HMCA will start taking orders once again."

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It follows the smaller i20 N hatch, with new orders paused since mid-2022 to prevent orders from exceeding the production allocation for the Australian market.

As with the i30 N hatch, Hyundai Australia expects new orders for the i20 N to resume once the production allocation catches up with the order bank.

Both vehicles are produced in Europe – the Czech Republic for the i30 N and Turkey for the i20 N – with greater supply for the Korean-built i30 Sedan N and Kona N.

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"We currently have strong supply, and stock locally, for both i30 Sedan N and Kona N," said the Hyundai Australia spokesperson.

According to the brand, the wait time for a new i30 Sedan N or Kona N order is approximately less than three months, with stock available in the dealer network.

By comparison, current orders for the i30 N and i20 N are facing a 12-month wait, with i20 N order holders potentially receiving the facelifted version due in 2024.

That's according to Hyundai's executive technical advisor, Albert Biermann, who mentioned the facelifted i20 N during the 2022 Hyundai N Festival at The Bend in South Australia.

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Image: 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan N spied, courtesy Hyundai N Owners Group

"Yes, there will be a facelift. It's coming next summer (Southern Hemisphere winter)… but on the technical side, you don't need to be afraid; it's still the [same] crazy corner rascal," he said, in a promotional interview.

A facelifted version of the i30 Sedan N is also expected later this year or early 2024, with a revised look, more technology, and likely adaptive cruise control for the dual-clutch automatic variant.

As for the i30 N hatch, Albert Biermann confirmed there won't be another petrol-powered model, as European regulations push brands further towards an electrified line-up.

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Hyundai's all-electric Ioniq 5 will soon introduce a powerful N flagship, while an Ioniq 6 N, based on the RN22e prototype, is expected to follow.

The future for the Kona N is less clear. A petrol-powered second-generation all but ruled out; however, it could adopt hybrid or all-electric power.

But this is looking unlikely, with attention for a full-fat N version likely to turn towards the Ioniq 5 N, and N Line versions of the Kona Hybrid and Electric.