European Elimination: Hyundai Ends Production of Gas-Powered Performance Vehicles

Hyundai Axes European Hot Hatches, Shocking Fans

Say goodbye to Hyundai’s exciting gasoline-powered models in Europe. A representative from the German division revealed to Motor1 Deutschland that the production of N cars that rely on gasoline will cease by mid-2024. This announcement effectively puts an end to the i20 N, i30 N, and the lesser-known i30 N Fastback. But if you act fast, there may still be a few units left in inventory.

For Europeans, the latest Veloster N and Elantra N have remained elusive. The newest version of the Kona has also yet to be given the N treatment, as only the N-Line variant is currently available. However, high-performance N models are still being developed for other markets. In fact, Hyundai has already announced its intentions to release a new Elantra N sedan which may feature a larger engine. Despite the decline of gas-powered sporty models in Europe, the N brand will continue to thrive with the introduction of the fully electric Ioniq 5 N. Furthermore, there are rumors of an Ioniq 6 N making its debut in the near future.

Due to the continuously tightening emissions regulations and rising taxes on gasoline vehicles, it comes as no surprise that Hyundai Europe has decided to discontinue their traditionally fueled N cars. Despite having only been introduced in recent years, with the i30 N debuting in 2017, followed by the i30 N Fastback in 2018 and the i20 N in 2020, these models are already being phased out.

Regrettably, the era of reasonably priced ICE (internal combustion engine) sports cars in Europe is quickly coming to an end. Volkswagen has terminated production of the up! GTI and Polo GTI models, and the newest Golf GTI is no longer available with a manual transmission. The days when Opel’s OPC lineup and Peugeot’s GTi series were flourishing are far behind us. Furthermore, Ford ceased production of the Fiesta ST in 2023 and plans to discontinue the Focus ST by 2025.

European drivers have also been able to get their hands on high-performance diesel cars from popular manufacturers. However, the Golf GTD and the diesel-powered Octavia RS have recently been discontinued.