2023 Hyundai i30 N Drive-N Limited Edition revealed, Australian allocation confirmed

The 2023 Hyundai i30 N Drive-N Limited Edition has been unveiled to the world, with less than 200 vehicles bound for Australia later this year.

The i30 N Drive-N offers a unique exterior styling package, with Hyundai adding 19-inch forged alloy wheels in a dark bronze matte paint, black Hyundai badges, and AMG-esque decals down the sides.

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Also fitted to the car are badges which display the GPS co-ordinates of Hyundai’s European testing facility located at the German circuit Nürburgring.

The Drive-N Limited Edition comes exclusively in a choice of phantom black pearl or serenity white pearl.

In the cabin, occupants are greeted with Alcantara with red contrast stitching on the steering wheel, shifter, armrest, handbrake, and seats – along with red seatbelts and trims, and a numbered badge.

As the Drive-N edition is based on the 2021 Hyundai i30 N Premium, a sunroof is also standard equipment.

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As with the i30 N hatch, the Drive-N is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which sends 206kW and 392Nm to the front wheels.

Buyers can choose between a six-speed manual or an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, allowing the hot hatch to hit 100km/h from a standstill in 5.9 or 5.4 seconds respectively.

Those who opt for the dual-clutch transmission gain three selectable performance levels to choose from: N Power Shift, N Grin Shift, and N Track Sense Shift.

Hyundai says N Grin Shift acts like an overboost function, delivering the car’s maximum power and sharpest transmission tune for 20 seconds.

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Of the 800 vehicles being made, just 180 are coming to Australia – with 70 per cent getting the automatic transmission. Less than a third will be finished in black, meaning a manual black Drive-N would be the rarest combination available.

Pricing for the 2023 Hyundai i30 N Drive-N Limited Edition is expected to be announced closer to the car’s arrival in the fourth quarter of 2022.