√2023 Hyundai i30 N Drive-N Limited Edition price revealed early for Australia

Less than 200 special-edition Hyundai i30 Ns are due in showrooms by the end of the year, with bronze detailing and unique badges for $2500 more than the models they’re based on.

The 2023 Hyundai i30 N Drive-N Limited Edition hot hatch is set to command a $3000 premium when it arrives in showrooms in November or December, dealers have been advised.

Due in Hyundai showrooms in November or December, a confidential dealer bulletin shared on social media indicates the i30 N Drive-N Limited Edition will cost $53,200 plus on-road costs with a six-speed manual transmission, or $56,200 plus on-road costs with an eight-speed automatic.

These represent premiums of $2500 over the i30 N Premium with Sunroof variant they’re based on – or less than $2000 more when the cost of metallic paint, which is standard on the special edition but costs $595 more on the normal model, is included.

Only 180 examples will be available in Australia – split 70:30 (126 and 54 cars) between automatic and manual gearboxes, and 70:30 again between Serenity White Pearl and Phantom Black Pearl paint.

It’s unclear if all 180 cars have sold out, however if interest on social media is a guide, a high proportion of vehicles have been accounted for. Australia’s allocation of Drive-N editions is said to be the second largest by market in the world.

Distinguishing the limited-edition run on the outside will be 19-inch dark bronze alloy wheels, an exterior decal package, black Hyundai emblems, and dark bronze Drive-N badges on the front wheel arches, with the coordinates of Hyundai’s test centre at Germany’s Nurburgring circuit.

Additions inside include Alcantara trim across the steering wheel, centre armrest, shifter, and handbrake, red contrast stitching, red stripes on the N Light bucket seats, red seat belts, red N steering wheel buttons, branded floor mats with red edging, and a badge denoting each car’s number in the global 800-vehicle production run.

Drive-N buyers in Australia will receive a welcome box housing the two keys and a unique Drive-N keyring, dealer documents report – while the special edition will also add a driver-controlled speed limiter, not fitted to the regular i30 N range.

Carry-over features from the standard i30 N Premium with Sunroof will include a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and satellite navigation, LED headlights, a panoramic glass sunroof, dual-zone climate control, wireless phone charging, keyless entry, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel.

The performance brakes (with 360mm front discs), adaptive suspension, and sports exhaust will also carry over, while a suite of safety features including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert will be available.

Automatic variants will be able to brake for obstacles detected by the blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, rather than simply detect them, as manual variants can.

The 206kW/392Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine will remain under the bonnet, powering the front wheels with the assistance of a limited-slip differential.

There are no mechanical changes for the i30 N Drive-N Limited Edition, with the standard hot hatch’s 206kW/392Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine under the bonnet to drive the front wheels through a limited-slip front differential.

The first shipments of 2023 Hyundai i30 N Drive-N Limited Edition hot hatches are expected to arrive in Australian showrooms in November or December this year.