With each gasoline-fueled scorching hatch that bites the bullet, the world turns into a sadder place. Stricter emissions rules have largely killed enjoyable automobiles in Europe, taking away fascinating pocket rockets just like the i20 N and i30 N. Hyundai’s man accountable for the N division is simply as dissatisfied 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 resulted in February. Nonetheless, the recent hatches are nonetheless round in different areas equivalent to Australia, the place the 2 enjoyable automobiles even acquired a minor facelift final 12 months.

The Vice President and Head of Hyundai N candidly admits he’s “not the one that truly actually likes the EV. I’ve all the time favored the scent and the sound and all these sorts of race automobiles.” In contrast, colleague Tyrone Johnson, Managing Director of the Europe Technical Heart in Germany, sees issues in a different way:

“I don’t perceive the concept that efficiency automobiles are dying. If you wish to go quick, there’s nothing higher than an EV. I don’t perceive the nostalgia.” He added that almost all fuel automobiles have been “miles away – a disappointment” in comparison with the 5 N and that “no person needs guide gearboxes anymore.”

A compromise is coming: hybrids. Joon says it’ll be some time earlier than electrified scorching hatchbacks roam the streets, but it surely’s doable. The chances of seeing a turbocharged 2.0-liter fuel engine underneath the hood are slim, particularly in Europe, attributable to “present regulation and future regulation.” The smaller 1.6-liter unit on the core of a hybrid powertrain has a greater probability of complying with more durable laws.

It’s unclear whether or not these electrified efficiency automobiles will retain a guide just like the outdated i20 N and i30 N had, however we’re skeptical. One other quirky Veloster N can also be extremely unlikely, contemplating manufacturing of the second-generation mannequin ended years in the past with no alternative 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 fuel engine or as a totally electrical mannequin.

Whereas the main focus seems to be on scorching EVs just like the Ioniq 5 N and the brand new Ioniq 6 N, Joon assures traditionalists that “we [Hyundai N] will not be limiting ourselves to EVs.” The long run might largely belong to sporty automobiles with out combustion engines, however ICE will survive in some capability.