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HomeCarsa new electric car approaching?

a new electric car approaching?

Hyundai has just announced the end of production of its i30 N and i20 N sports models in Europe. This decision is part of the Korean brand's electrification strategy, which promises in return the development of a sporty and affordable electric car. Discover the details of this change of direction that is shaking up the world of sporty city cars.

The end of an era for enthusiasts

This is news that will sadden many fans of sporty driving: Hyundai has announced the end of production of the i30 N and i20 N for the European market. These two models, which have won the hearts of enthusiasts with their performance and accessibility, are the latest victims of the transition to electric.

The brand justifies this decision by its commitment to offering a range with zero tailpipe emissions by 2035, and to achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. A strategic choice which is in line with the current trend in the automobile market, but which does not will not fail to make aficionados of thermal sports cars cringe.

The promise of an electric and sporty future

But Hyundai is not planning to abandon the sports car segment just yet. The Korean brand has already started to chart the course of sports electrification with the Ioniq 5 N, a high-performance electric SUV.

Hyundai N executive technical advisor Albert Biermann confirmed at the Australian launch of the Ioniq 5 N that the brand's top priority is now to develop a smaller, affordable N electric car.

โ€œWe need this N car in a smaller segment, and that is my number one priority for the rest of my tenure at Hyundai Motor Group: to design one or two models that will offer a true N experience in a more affordable segment, but with the same level of driving pleasure, if not more,โ€ Biermann said.

A technical and economic challenge

If Hyundai's intention is laudable, the realization of this project promises to be complex. Finding the balance between high performance and low price is already a challenge for thermal cars, but it becomes even more difficult with electric engines, whose production costs remain high.

In addition, Hyundai will first have to develop an electric platform adapted to more compact and affordable vehicles than the Ioniq 5. In-depth work that will require time and significant investments.

A still unclear calendar

For the moment, Hyundai has not communicated a precise roadmap for this future sporty and affordable electric model. The brand still appears to be in the study and design phase, which suggests it will be commercialized in several years.

This uncertainty also raises questions about the segment targeted by this future model. Will it replace the i20 N in the sports city car category, or the i30 N in the compact category? The answer will probably depend on the technological advances and economic constraints encountered by Hyundai in the development of this ambitious project.

A turning point for the automotive industry

Hyundai's decision to stop production of its thermal sports cars in favor of an electric project perfectly illustrates the upheavals currently experiencing the automobile industry. Manufacturers are being forced to completely rethink their approach to motorsport to adapt to new environmental and regulatory requirements.

This shift towards sporty and affordable electric vehicles could, if it comes to fruition, pave the way for a new generation of high-performance cars that are more environmentally friendly. A technical and marketing challenge that Hyundai seems ready to take on, at the risk of upsetting the habits of enthusiasts.

Until this project comes to fruition, fans of the i30 N and i20 N will have to make do with the last examples available on the market. These models could well become collector's items, witnesses to a bygone era of accessible sports cars.

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