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The Hyundai i30 Hatch is on borrowed time, and this funky electrical hatchback may find yourself changing it.
Anticipated to be known as the Hyundai Ioniq 3, the brand new electrical hatchback was previewed by this 12 months’s Three idea and is about to enter manufacturing in Türkiye in 2026.
Within the transition from idea to manufacturing automotive, the Ioniq 3 has gained typical wing mirrors and flush door handles.
Nonetheless, it has the identical rounded wedge profile, together with a Genesis GV60-like rear-end form, plus slim lighting up entrance and a distinctively sculpted fascia.
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The Ioniq 3 would be the subsequent mannequin from Hyundai with the Korean model’s new Artwork of Metal design language. This debuted on final 12 months’s Initium idea that previewed the second-generation Nexo hydrogen fuel-cell electrical car (FCEV) unveiled this 12 months, however nonetheless options acquainted model design components like Parametric Pixel sq. lighting components.
The rounded profile owes extra to the defunct Veloster than the extra conservative i30 Hatch.
The inside bears a lot much less of a similarity to the idea, although there’s nonetheless a barely squared-off type steering wheel and a two-tier centre console, in addition to a minimalist centre stack with a single row of buttons.
In contrast to the idea, there are precise free-standing instrument cluster and infotainment screens.
The instrument cluster is slim and set far again, doubtlessly negating the necessity for a head-up show.
The infotainment display is giant and horizontally oriented. Beneath it sits bodily switches and knobs for adjusting the local weather management temperature and fan pace, and the heated and ventilated entrance seats. These switches in flip sit above a pair of air vents.
There’s a bridge-type centre console, with the highest tier that includes a coated bin with a padded armrest, in addition to a pair of cupholders, whereas beneath is a storage shelf.
The foolish Carry Your Personal Life-style modular widgets of the idea, which Hyundai by no means actually defined, have been banished.
The Ioniq 3 is predicted to share a 400V model of the E-GMP platform with the Kia EV4.
The five-door Three hatchback idea measured 4287mm lengthy, 1940mm large and 1428mm tall on a 2722mm wheelbase, making it equivalent in size to the MG 4, and near the i30 Hatch in total dimension.
The i30 Hatch measures 4340mm lengthy, 1795mm large and 1453mm tall on a 2650mm wheelbase.
That implies the Ioniq 3 will exchange the i30 Hatch, not less than in Europe. Camouflaged prototypes of a mildly up to date model of the combustion-powered hatch and wagon have been spied testing, however there’s been no phrase on a brand new technology of the venerable i30 nameplate.
In distinction, sister model Kia has simply launched a brand new small automotive – the K4 – which changed not solely the Cerato/Forte in markets akin to ours, however may also exchange the European-developed, i30-related Ceed in Europe.
The i30 Hatch can be retired in Australia this 12 months, with manufacturing ending for our market in December. The i30 Hatch N, additionally sourced from Czechia, will dwell on for an unspecified time. Not offered in Europe, the recent hatch is simply provided in a handful of worldwide markets.
The Korean-built i30 Sedan, recognized elsewhere because the Elantra and Avante and driving on newer underpinnings, is unaffected.
A vendor bulletin seen by CarExpert confirmed the i30 Hatch’s discontinuation, in addition to that of the smaller i20 N sizzling hatch – although Hyundai Australia pointedly mentioned a “new technology of accessible N merchandise” is due in 2027, indicating we’ll get the following i20 N which is about to achieve hybrid energy.
It’s unclear if we’ll get the manufacturing Ioniq 3, although Kia will launch its associated EV4 right here.
MORE: Discover the Hyundai i30 showroom
