If there were any concerns about Hyundai’s N performance division’s goal of conquering the ultra-competitive world of hot hatchbacks, those questions and concerns should be put to bed. Not only did Hyundai make a smashing first impression with the i30 N, it created a vacuum of demand and interest in the hot hatch that culminated with the first 100 First Edition models of the hot hatch selling out in Germany in a matter of two days.

Two days. That’s all it took for German customers to scoop up all 100 units of the i30 N First Edition models. It may not sound too impressive at first glance, but considering that the i30 N is a completely new model that’s looking to break ground in a market dominated by so many competitors, and the narrative surrounding the surprisingly hot-selling hot hatch starts to change. The truth is that while the i30 N has been developed to compete against the best of the best in its segment, there are no assurances that it would be successful from the get-go. That’s how competitive the hot hatch market is. Turns out, the i30 N is more than up to the challenge as shown by the demand for the 100 First Edition models. There’s no word yet on whether Hyundai Deutschland plans to add more First Edition models to accommodate this who missed out on it, but it is offering the same people the chance to have their names on a waiting list for the hot hatch in the event one of the 100 models becomes available.

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Hyundai’s off on the right foot in the hot hatch market

I’m pretty sure that as confident as Hyundai was in the i30 N, it probably didn’t expect it to attract this much attention off the bat as shown by the huge demand for the First Edition models. Not that it should be complaining because this is a stroke of good fortune for the Korean automaker as it attempts to make a name for itself in the hot hatch market.

If anything, the high interest in the i30 N First Edition validates the confidence the company has on the hot hatch, something Albert Biermann, VP of Performance Development and High Performance Vehicle Division, alluded to when he described the i30 N as a car that was developed to “deliver pure driving pleasure in an accessible high-performance package for the road and for the track.”

In a lot of ways, Biermann’s description of the i30 N matches well with what the hot hatch itself is capable of. For instance, the First Edition models come equipped with the Performance Package, which means that the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine it has produces 271 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, 25 horsepower more than the standard version of the hatch. Increased power aside, the special edition i30 N also comes with stickier tires, bigger brakes, an electronic limited-slip differential, an active exhaust system, and plenty of cosmetic enhancements that further separates itself from its standard counterparts. All these mentioned features don’t even count another huge bonus for those lucky enough to secure a slot for any of the 100 units of the First Edition model. Each one of them will be invited to the Nürburgring where they will take part in a workshop with Biermann himself while also getting some time on the famous track for training purposes.

With all these features and add-on extras in place, it’s not hard to imagine why all 100 units of the Hyundai i30 N sold out as quickly as they did. I’d be tripping over myself, too, trying to secure a slot if I was in the market. Fortunately, geography and logistics prevent me from having to deal with the stampede. That doesn’t mean that I don’t want one, though, because I definitely do. Hyundai really put its best foot forward in developing the i30 N, and for all of its hard work, it’s seeing the fruits of all that labor come to life.

Drivetrain and performance

References

Read our full review on the 2018 Hyundai i30 N.