Hyundai Australia won’t kill off its high-performance N models despite increasing pressure from the Federal Government’s Recent Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).
Speaking with CarExpert, Hyundai Australia chief operating officer Gavin Donaldson said that tightening emissions caps under the NVES regulations add pressure and potential penalties, however the Korean brand has no plans to drag petrol-powered N cars just like the i20 N and i30 N as Hyundai Europe has.
“We expect there is a place for a high-performance ICE engine [in our lineup],” said Mr Donaldson.
CarExpert can prevent 1000’s on a brand new automobile. Click here to get an important deal.
“Our N products were probably about $5.1 million in penalties, and you recognize if we take that out, we’re in credit… I do not know [competitors’] strategies, but for us we were in a deficit [against NVES] purely because we’ve got a brand that we would like to maintain in Australia.”
Earlier this week, the Australian Government released the primary results under its Recent Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), with around two-thirds of brands beating their emissions targets.
Type 1 vehicles (passenger cars and SUVs) had a headline limit of 141g/km of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for 2025, with Type 2 vehicles – including utes, vans, and huge off-road SUVs just like the Ford Everest – having a headline limit of 210g/km.
Hyundai Motor Company posted an ‘interim emissions value’ of 84,563 units, meaning it will need to trade credit units with one other company by December 31, 2027 or risk a penalty in February 2028 of $50 multiplied by their final emissions value.
For reference, the Hyundai i20 N quotes a combined CO2 emissions figure of 157g/km even with Euro 6-homologated powertrain systems, while the larger i30 Hatch N quotes 197-199g/km with its Euro 5-certified powertrain.
This yr, NVES CO2 caps lower to 117g/km for Type 1 vehicles, meaning the petrol-powered N range will likely be subject to even greater penalties – though the all-electric Ioniq 5 N and incoming Ioniq 6 N can offset these somewhat with their zero-emissions powertrains with enough volume.
In September, Hyundai detailed its plans to expand its lineup by 2030 at its 2025 CEO Investor Day, including bringing the N division lineup to seven models including its first hybrid.
Currently, the Hyundai N range comprises several distinct models globally, including the i20 N, i30 Hatch N, Elantra N (i30 Sedan N here), Ioniq 5 N and Ioniq 6 N. The previous Veloster N available in South Korea and North America has been discontinued.
A brand new-generation Elantra N/Avante N/i30 Sedan N is known to be within the works as a part of the next-gen sedan’s range – potentially due for reveal later this yr – while the sixth and seventh nameplates as a consequence of receive the N treatment remain unknown.
There have long been rumours of an N-branded SUV, potentially based on the Tucson, while the compact Kona crossover offered an N version in its previous generation.
One other potential candidate for the Hyundai N treatment is the upcoming Ioniq 3 compact EV, which was shown because the Concept Three finally yr’s Munich motor show.
Tell us within the comments if you happen to’re joyful that Hyundai is committing to the N range in Australia!
This Article First Appeared At www.carexpert.com.au
