Hyundai i30 N delayed

HYUNDAI’S eagerly anticipated N-brand debut will have to wait until next year, with the Australian launch of the pioneering i30 N delayed until as late as March 2018.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI challenger was expected to roll into local showrooms following an Australian launch in November, but an undisclosed set of circumstances has pushed the significant date into next year.

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Globally, the schedule is unchanged, with an international first drive slated for September and a European on-sale date before the end of 2017. ‘Internal reasons’ are as much detail on offer for the delay at this stage, which suggests the postponement could be as a result of Australian compliance challenges, although production constraints are also not out of the question.

When it arrives, the i30 N will kick-start a new high-performance era for the South Korean brand with its first hot hatch and up to a 202kW punch – more than enough to worry the segment benchmark Golf GTI.

There is good news with the delay announcement however. While Hyundai is still refining the final price, Hyundai Motor Company Australia public relations general manager Bill Thomas said the company was focused on coming to market with a price as sharp as the German’s.

“That’s important for us and pricing is critical,” he said. “Have a look at Golf GTI. Obviously factor in the manual-only status of our car, but we need to be competitive with that car.

“It’s part of what we hold dear and this idea of being able to deliver strong value for money no matter what the price point”.

If the i30 N does manage to match the VW for ticket price, it will weigh in about the $40,000 mark but pack a bigger punch than the Golf’s 169kW.

Thomas explained that while customers had been expressing interest in the car via a section of Hyundai’s website, no orders were yet being taken for the i30 N.