The Last Hurrah for the Hyundai i20 N Comes in Shadow Edition Form

The Hyundai i20 N doesn't have much time left, but it's not leaving quietly. Before the hot hatch makes way for an all-new successor, Hyundai Australia has launched a limited-run Shadow Edition that gives one of the most entertaining small performance cars on the market a proper send-off.

Just 100 examples will be built, and the changes focus more on character than outright performance. The most eye-catching addition is a set of 18-inch matte bronze flow-forged wheels that completely change the car's look. Combined with black wheel nuts and subtle side graphics, they give the little hatch a more distinctive presence without overdoing it.

The same bronze theme continues inside. Buyers get a numbered dashboard plaque, an Alcantara gear knob, special floor mats inspired by the tread pattern of the Pirelli P Zero tires, and an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel with a blue center marker. Paint choices are limited to Atlas White or Phantom Black, adding to the exclusivity.

Under the hood, Hyundai wisely left everything alone. The turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder still sends 201 hp (150 kW) and 203 lb-ft (275 Nm) of torque to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox and a limited-slip differential. In a world increasingly filled with heavier and more complicated performance cars, the i20 N remains refreshingly simple and ridiculously fun.

That exclusivity comes at a premium. Pricing starts at AU$41,500 ($29,300) for the white version and AU$42,095 ($29,700) for the black one, compared to AU$37,500 ($26,500) for a standard i20 N. For fans of small hot hatches, though, the Shadow Edition feels less like a special trim package and more like a final celebration of a disappearing breed.