Hyundai’s i20 eco car arrives in the UK
2014-12-02 19:01:22
In unveiling its i20 supermini, Hyundai are arguably hoping that it can replicate the success it had with its i10 city car. If looks alone were to be a sign of success, then the i20 would stand a good chance of meeting its objective. It boasts a sophisticated design on the outside which shrouds a class-leading interior. Not content with this alone, the second-generation i20 boasts generous equipment and large car features, arguably taking it onto the boundaries of premium quality.
The new i20 has been designed and developed in Europe – and will be built here too. This means that it is a true European product, even if its parentage is very much Korean.
At the heart of the line-up will be a new downsized Kappa 1.0-litre T-GDI turbocharged 3-cylinder petrol engine, capable of developing 118bhp and 127lb ft of torque. When it arrives in 2015, this will be the first Hyundai to use the new engine and heralds a new generation of small turbocharged petrol engines that the company will be introducing. Developed at the company’s European Technical Centre in Germany, the company claims that they will offer performance, driving pleasure and efficiency in a single package.
As it stands, at the moment you have to make do with a conventional 1.25-litre petrol unit in two states of tune (74bhp or 83bhp) and a 99bhp 1.4-litre petrol. Diesel fans can opt for a 74bhp 1.1-litre or 89bhp 1.4-litre turbocharged diesel unit.
In line with the current trend, the new i20 is larger than the car it replaces in terms of length and width, but lower. The wheelbase has been stretched by 45mm leading to that class-leading interior space. To ensure that five passengers and all their gear can be properly accommodated, the boot has also grown to 326-litres, meaning that it is bigger than that found in the Ford Focus. Getting bulky items in and out should be less problematic too, since the tailgate opening has been increased to 1,027mm.
The Hyundai i20 is also the first car in its segment to get an opening panoramic sunroof. Other large car features include a reversing camera and Hyundai’s first integrated satellite navigation it has installed into a supermini.
Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Hyundai Motor Europe, told EcoCars4Sale: “The i20 is a truly European car and we are proud have presented it in Paris prior to its arrival now in the UK. With our new 1.0-litre engine, we follow the trend of small turbocharged engines which provide greater driving performance whilst being very efficient. The new engine underlines Hyundai’s commitment to sustainable mobility in Europe and gives an insight into future drivetrain innovations from Hyundai.”
More widely than the i20, the Korean giant took the opportunity in Paris of reinforcing its position at the forefront of developing sustainable mobility by announcing a fuel efficient 1.4-litre direct injection T-GDI petrol engine, a 48-volt Hybrid version of its i40 large family hatch and estate, and a CNG-powered (compressed natural gas) i30 powering a 1.4-litre T-GDI turbocharged petrol which only produces 115bhp. A 7-speed dual clutch gearbox is also a new innovation for the company.
The i20 is now out.
This article has been prepared by First4Auto exclusively for EcoCars4Sale
Reported By
Andrew Merritt-Morling
Chief Editor
