Hyundai Australia is hoping an Ioniq 3 N hot hatch will be the next to join its growing electric performance stable.
Hyundai Australia has hinted at its desire for an electric hot hatch to line up next to its newly-launched Ioniq 6 N performance sedan and the Ioniq 5 N hot hatch-styled SUV.
The Ioniq 3, revealed last month at Milan Design Week and due in Australia in 2027, has only been confirmed in N Line guise for now, it is highly speculated to be among the next EVs to receive the full N performance treatment.
While the current flagship N EV models focus on ultra-fast 800-volt architectures and premium price points, the Korean brand’s focus is expected to pivot toward a more accessible entry point and 400-volt architecture.
The most likely candidate to follow on from the current niche Hyundai EV N models would be a smaller and more affordable hatch or sedan to suit a wider range of enthusiasts.
The Ioniq 5 N, which was introduced in 2024, and the newly-launched Ioniq 6 N are both priced at $115,000 plus on-road costs.
MORE: 2027 Hyundai Ioniq 3 electric hatch revealed, Australian launch due next year
At the recent Hyundai Ioniq 6 launch in April, Hyundai Australia hinted at an Ioniq 3 N as a likely next candidate because it balances affordability with the track capability the brand is known for.
“The Ioniq 3 has just launched in April, at Milan Design Week, [and] we would love to see an Ioniq 3 N come here if it is ever built,” said Bill Thomas, Hyundai Australia’s General Manager of Corporate Communications.
“Ioniq 5 and 6 N are hero cars; performance cars, we don’t expect big numbers, but it’s not about [sales]. [But] an Ioniq 3 N would do well here.”
Thomas said the Ioniq 3 is due in Australia early next year, including an N Line variant, but would not be drawn into further comment on an Ioniq 3 N performance version.
The Ioniq 3 is understood to share its underpinnings and driveline with the Kia EV2, but the larger EV3 GT and EV4 GT give a hint of what to expect from a new small Hyundai N electric car.
MORE: 2027 Hyundai Ioniq 3 confirmed for Australia before full reveal
The EV3 GT uses an 81.4kWh battery pack and dual electric motors for 250kW combined, running on 400-volt electronics that were once all but ruled out for electric N cars, but may now be on the table.
It is fair to assume that a full suite of software features from the Ioniq 5 N and Ioniq 6 N would also make the transition, including track mapping, simulated gears, and synthesised driving sounds.
Hyundai has stated the gear shift and sound software is vital for maintaining the involving sensation of a petrol-powered performance car in a silent electric vehicle.
The Ioniq 3 is heavily inspired by the Concept Three revealed in Germany in September 2025, and shares a resemblance to the now-defunct Veloster hatchback.
MORE: Hyundai Ioniq 5 spied with Tesla-style buttonless interior interface
This electric hatchback is similar in size to the i30 petrol hatchback, which is no longer offered outside of N guise in local showrooms.
It will go up against the MG 4, BYD Dolphin and GAC Aion UT electric hatchbacks, but at a likely $10,000 premium, though pricing and model specs are yet to be confirmed.
By targeting a smaller platform and lower price point for a N full performance EV, Hyundai could reach a significantly wider audience and garner more sales than its current $115,000 ‘SUV’ and sedan.
By March this year, the Ioniq 5 N had reached 311 sales since its 2024 launch, and the Ioniq 6 N sedan is expected to have a similarly small niche, so a smaller and cheaper Ioniq 3 N could procure a higher volume sales as well as performance credentials for the Korean brand.
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