Hyundai has confirmed to CarAdvice that the i30 N hot hatch will gain a dual-clutch transmission option in late-2019. [ads id=”9″]
According to Andrew Tuitahi, senior product manager for Hyundai Australia, described the decision to launch with only the Performance-spec i30 N as a “statement of intent”, but said the range will continue evolving. “The i30 N line-up will adapt over time,” Tuitahi said, speaking to media at the Australian i30 N drive program. “We’ll study how the standard version goes in other markets,” he later added.
According to Bill Thomas, communications boss for Hyundai Australia, it’s a “no-brainer to bring the standard i30 N out once the DCT is online”. That comment was backed by the company CEO, who acknowledged the “sales limitations” of only offering a manual gearbox.
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At this stage, the dual-clutch transmission is likely to arrive in “late 2019”. Thomas wouldn’t be drawn on what that is likely to mean for sales, arguing it’s “hard to say” how the self-shifter will boost customer uptake. At the moment, there are 40 customer orders from a promotion run on the Hyundai website. As for what the i30 N will do for Hyundai? Well, it’s not going to be a volume seller. Jung Wook Lee, local CEO for Hyundai, says it “will change our [Hyundai’s own] attitudes to our cars”.
