It’s a new kick for small thermal sports cars…

The planned end of affordable thermal sports cars

Remember, just a few years ago, most car manufacturers have offered a sporty derivative of their thermal city cars in their range. Peugeot 208 GTi, Ford Fiesta ST, Renault Clio RS, Toyota GR Yaris, Volkswagen Polo GTi… More recently, in 2021,The Korean manufacturer Hyundai presented in France supercharged version of its city car i20, i20N. Equipped with a developing gasoline unit of 1.6 liters 204 horsepower (compared to its 1190 kg!), it introduced performance-oriented technologies such as a limited-slip differential, a system Correspondence of revolutions for improved downshifting and also a new Performance data system providing the driver with power, torque and turbo pressure data. A small “bombinet”, so welcome to a market that is losing momentum against the background of increasingly restrictive European environmental standards. A few years before her, in the upper segment, the compact i30N competed against the Volkswagen Golf Gti, Ford Focus ST and Renault Mégane RS… Unfortunately, it is no longer sold in France as of 2020.

Hyundai throws in the towel on thermal sports cars in Europe

These two models will soon be a thing of the past, Hyundai plans to remove them from its European range from February. The group confided in our colleagues at Carscoops, announcing that “production of the ICE N models will be discontinued for the European market. Starting from Februaryin line with our commitment to offer our customers a zero-emissions range by 2035 and operate with 100% carbon neutrality by 2045.” Reading between the lines, we can also see this as an admission of failure in the face of many European restrictions. on emissions, starting with highly controversial CAFE provision, which applies a tax of €95 per gram of CO2 above the maximum regulatory limit to each model sold. Not to mention that in France a very serious environmental penalty for non-electrified models. The price of the Hyundai i20 N with emissions of 158 g of CO2 per kilometer will decrease by 3,784 euros in 2024… Good luck, the brand currently produces sporty versions of its electric models, such as the IONIQ 5 N, which will arrive in dealerships in March, or the Kona N, which is not distributed in France. But she is already among several of our neighbors.

By 2025, a powerful version of the IONIQ 6 sedan may be released.

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