The same year in which we will say goodbye to the Renault Mégane RS, we can say hello to the ‘new’ Hyundai i20 N. The presence of the quotes is relevant because Hyundai has prepared a facelift for its urban sports car, not a new generation. And in these updates we know that there are news, but will there be in the mechanical section?
Confirmation came in hyundai n festival held last December at The Bend Motorsport Park, a circuit located on the outskirts of Adelaide (Australia). It was there that Albert Biermann (former head of the N division and current Hyundai technical advisor) was asked if the brand is working on a new Hyundai i20 N. And his answer was a breath of fresh air for a segment as questioned as that of the urban sports
There is indeed good news. Hyundai is working on a refreshed version of the Hyundai i20 N: “Yes, there will be a face lift. It will come next summer so we still have to wait a bit.” His words mean that we should see the outcome of this update sometime between June and August of this year.
A watered down update
It will, however, be a decaffeinated version because the Hyundai i20 N is unlikely to receive any significant mechanical upgrades. The ‘facelift’ will respect its 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo engine, which delivers (through a six-speed manual gearbox) a power of 204 HP and has a maximum torque of 275 Nm. There would be no changes to other key mechanical components either: Hyundai has already ruled out the option of a dual-clutch automatic transmission, due to the cost of developing it and its weight. We may see some retouching in the set-up.
The theories have been supported by Albert Biermann: “From a technical point of view, there is no need to be afraid. The new model will continue to be the same crazy as now. Everything indicates, therefore, that the updates will focus on the redesign of certain parts of the front, the rear and maybe some new features for the interior.
And the second generation of the Hyundai i20 N?
The second generation of the Hyundai i20 N is still in the air because Hyundai has not yet made any decision on it. The brand is aware that the urban segment and, above all, that of urban sports cars is becoming smaller due to gradual disappearances. The South Korean manufacturer does not believe that it will die, they assume that a successor will arrive… but, for now, they have “difficulties” to guarantee a new model.
For Hyundai “we can never have enough Hyundai i20 N”. For now, we will have to wait until next summer when they have anticipated the arrival of the new urban sports car… if the limitations of semiconductors, which have affected them up to now, allow it.
