2023 Hyundai i30 N hatchback scores its first special edition! Drive-N Limited Edition arriving now with keen pricing to take on Volkswagen Golf GTI and Cupra Leon

Hyundai Australia has secured 180 examples of the new i30 N Drive-N Limited Edition hot hatch, which are starting to roll into local showrooms now.

The 180 examples offered locally will be out of a total pool of 800 units, making Australia’s allocation the second-largest by market with the rest of the vehicles destined for Europe.

While overseas markets will also have access to the i30 Fastback N version of the Drive-N Limited Edition, Hyundai Australia has opted to take just the hatchback body style.

It is priced from $53,200 for the six-speed manual and $56,200 for the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. That's a $4000 premium over the standard i30 N Premium manual and $2500 more than the N Premium auto.

Split 30:70 between manual and automatic, as well as 30:70 for black and the new Serenity White Pearl exterior paintwork, the rest of the spec of the Drive-N Limited Edition builds on the N Premium with sunroof.

To differentiate the Limited Edition from the standard i30 N however, Hyundai has added dark bronze-coloured 19-inch forged alloy wheels, as well as colour-matching decals and Drive-N badges on the front fenders.

Of note, these Limited Edition badges also display the coordinates for Hyundai’s Nurburgring test centre, “the home of the N models”, according to the brand.

The front and rear Hyundai badges are now also finished in black.

Inside, each i30 N Drive-N Limited Edition examples are fitted with a plaque denoting its build number out of 800, while leather is swapped out for Alcantara for the steering wheel, gear shifter, armrest and handbrake.

The hot hatch’s red-accent stitching still remains however, with the highlight colour now also extending to all seat belts and steering wheel N buttons.

Finally, the Limited Edition scores a new seat insert patter, as well as bespoke floor mats.

The i30 N’s 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine carries over unchanged however, which means a 206kW/392Nm output that is fed to the front axle.

The i30 N’s manual gearbox features six ratios and sports an rev-matching feature for optimal downshifts, while the automatic version uses a newly-developed eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with various settings.

2023 Hyundai i30 Drive-N Limited Edition pricing before on-road costs

UPDATED FROM: 02/05/2022