H’Y’undai spy a more sophisticated i20 supermini

2014-08-24 10:32:04


Hyundai has unveiled pictures of its new i20 supermini ahead of its official debut at October’s Paris motor show. Having been designed in Europe and built in Turkey, this is very much a European-focused supermini developed by the Korean manufacturer which intends to take the fight to the class-leading Ford Fiesta and premium Volkswagen Polo.

The wheelbase has been stretched by a significant 45mm, taking the distance between the two axles to 2,750mm. This, claims the company, has helped create one of the most spacious cabins in the B-segment supermini class, thus ensuring that five adults can now be comfortably carried within the cabin. The company say that the combined front and rear legroom of 1,892mm is best in class, as is boot capacity which is a segment-leading 326-litres when the seats are in their upright position. For comparative purposes, a Polo can only muster 280-litres.

The extended wheelbase has meant that the i20 has burst through the four metre barrier, with an overall length of 4,035mm. That means it is 66mm longer than a Ford Fiesta and takes it well beyond the threshold which has traditionally been considered the maximum size for a supermini. It also puts clearer water between it and its i10 city car sibling.

Hyundai also claims another first for the supermini segment: the introduction of a panoramic sunroof. This is the most obvious of the large-car features which the company are making available on the i20, along with a raft of technological gadgets including LED rear lights and a rear-view camera to help improve reversing.

From the photographs provided by the company, it is clear that the i20 looks quite smart and sophisticated – especially with the gloss black C-pillar which wraps itself around the car to give the impression of a floating roof. The Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design language has delivered a more confident styling package headed up by Kia’s design chief Peter Schreyer who is now turning his attention to the Hyundai models. The i20 has been penned at the Korean company’s Russelsheim design studio in Germany.

Reported By

Andrew Merritt-Morling

Chief Editor

This is an abridge article prepared by First4Auto exclusively for EcoCars4Sale.