Hyundai i30 N and i20 N orders re-open in Australia!

Hyundai has re-opened orders for its popular i20 N and i30 N hatchbacks, with six-month delivery times for new orders predicted.

Those who've been patiently waiting for Hyundai dealers to take their cash will be happy to hear that both of the brand's performance hatchbacks are now back on sale.

"We are pleased to announce that i20 N and i30 N (hatch) will reopen for customer orders effective immediately", a Hyundai Australia spokesperson told Wheels.

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"Our existing order bank has been gradually reduced over the past year, to where we now have sufficient production supply to fulfil existing backorders", the spokesperson added.

Orders for the i30 N hatch were paused in February this year, though sedans were still available. A facelifted i30 Sedan N is expected for local release next year. The i20 N, meanwhile, was off-limits from July 2022 until now, driving prices of lightly-used examples above RRP.

The Hyundai i20 N and i30 N are two of the few remaining attainable performance cars with manual transmissions and cost from $34,990 and $46,200 respectively.

Hyundai Australia is predicting a six-month turnaround for both vehicles for those ordering now, factoring in three to four months of transport from their respective factories.

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Our original story, below, continues unchanged

February 2023: Hyundai i30 N hatch orders 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.