Hyundai Kona N dead, almost sold out in Australia

The axe has formally fallen on the Hyundai Kona N small performance SUV after just two years in Australian showrooms.

South Korean car-maker Hyundai has confirmed production of the Kona N – the i30 N hot hatch's high-riding twin – has ceased for Australia, and order books have closed.

The company says the final cars are already in dealer stock – or in holding yards en route to showrooms – but the final examples are to sell out next month (July).

An all-new Hyundai Kona is due in showrooms in the coming weeks, with the option of a 1.6-litre turbo N Line variant – but Drive understands there are no plans for a Kona N performance variant.

Hyundai head office has previously confirmed a new Kona N will not be available at launch, and plans to build a performance version "will be considered later".

However Drive understands a Kona N is unlikely to be introduced at any point in the new model's life cycle – with petrol nor electric power – and the nameplate will be limited to one generation.

Believed to be to blame are stringent emissions regulations in Europe – where about one-quarter of Kona Ns are sold – that are set to kill off the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine in today's i30 N hatch and sedan, and Kona N SUV.

"Right now, Hyundai Europe is in EV [electric vehicle] heaven," Albert Biermann – former boss of Hyundai N turned Hyundai executive technical advisor – told Australian media in December 2022, when asked about a new Kona N.

“Having Kona EV, Ioniq 5 EV, they are so happy selling those EVs and they're not really fighting to get a Kona with a combustion [petrol] engine, to continue into a next-generation [Kona N].

“It could have been possible until Euro 7 [emissions rules] starts. There could be a stretch of four years or so on a next-generation [Kona N] with a combustion engine, but the EV heaven is just too charming and too enjoyable right now to our salespeople. So they are really not fighting for it.”

It is understood the 2.0-litre turbo engine – now more than a decade old – will not be upgraded to meet Euro 7 standards due in 2025 or 2026.

Without Europe – where a quarter of Hyundai Kona N SUVs are sold – it appears there may not be enough potential sales to justify a new Kona N.

Mr Biermann also ruled out a performance version of the new Kona Electric, as its 400-volt electric drivetrain would not be capable of the race-track driving needed to warrant the N badge – unlike the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric car, which uses 800-volt technology.

Due to follow the death of the Kona N is the i30 N hatch – which is set to get one last facelift this year before it is discontinued after the middle of the decade – while the future of the pint-sized i20 N hangs under a cloud.

The i30 Sedan N is due to receive another generation, Mr Biermann confirmed – which is set to leave it as the last petrol-powered N car available at the end of this decade.