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Hyundai unveiled the new i20 today, the Korean manufacturer’s latest Fiesta/Polo/Corsa rival that they say ‘confirms Hyundai’s position as a truly European automaker’. Come again?
As it turns out, Hyundai hasn’t relocated in the dead of the night, but rather says it has designed the new i20 to ‘meet the needs of European consumers’.
What needs are those?
Well for starts the car looks very VW/Audi-ish, like an Audi A1 rear-ended a Golf in a two-becomes-one sort of merge. Europeans will like that kind of ‘chic’ thinking from the Koreans.
Even in brown we’re of the opinion that this i20 looks pretty neat, what with those blacked-out C-pillars and fancy LED running lights. There aren’t any images of the interior just yet, but rest assured that this European style design makeover will continue in there too.
Surely those Europeans are after more than just looks?
Probably. Which is why this second-gen i20 sits on a fresh platform, larger than that of its predecessor. In fact the new i20 has grown its wheelbase and length by 4cm and 5cm respectively, which makes it slightly longer than both the Fiesta and Polo. No surprise that Hyundai claim class-leading legroom and bootspace.
And for something a little special the new i20 also gets a full length panoramic sunroof – a first for the sector.
Sounds good, now let’s talk engines…
Unfortunately there’s no word yet, but expect to see a range of four-cylinder diesels and petrols.
What about price?
Same goes for pricing – no announcements just yet. We’d expect a small premium over the current range, which starts at R165,900.
