New Generation i20_Front

After a few teasers and several leaks, the Hyundai i20 has finally been revealed in both European- and Indian-market (badged Elite i20) guise, ahead of its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in October. The new car has been leaked thoroughly both inside and out, so there's not much new that can be gleaned here. Still, it's worth looking in depth.

Measuring 40 mm longer than before at 4,035 mm, the i20 is one of the few B-segment hatches to break the four-metre mark. That increase has been incorporated into the wheelbase, now 45 mm longer at 2,570 mm. This translates to a more spacious cabin – combined front and rear legroom comes in at 1,892 mm, which Hyundai says is best in class along with its 320-litre boot. Indian models get a smaller 285-litre boot.

Designed at Hyundai's Design Centre Europe in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the i20 incorporates the company's new "Fluidic Sculpture 2.0" aesthetic seen on the new Genesis and Sonata, giving the car a more angular and matured look that contrasts with its predecessor's curvaceous forms.

New Generation i20_Rear

At the front, there are swept-back headlights with projectors, LED daytime running lights and LED positioning lights on higher-end models in Europe, a narrow slit grille, a larger hexagonal grille below it and a U-shaped air inlet under that.

Coming to the rear, there are gloss black C-pillars that give an impression of a floating roofline, as well as slim boomerang-shaped wraparound tail lights. There is also an optional panoramic sunroof on European models which is claimed to be the first in its class.

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Interior pictures of the Indian model show a nicely-designed cabin with a dashboard that is somewhat reminiscent of the Kia c'eed's. Indian cars get a six-speaker audio system with 1 GB of internal memory, Bluetooth connectivity, steering wheel audio controls, automatic air-conditioning, tilt- and telescopic-adjustable steering wheel and rear air vents.

India also gets the same 83 PS, 115 Nm 1.2 litre Kappa four-cylinder petrol and 90 PS, 220 Nm 1.4 litre U2 four-cylinder turbodiesel engines as before. The petrol engine is mated to a five-speed manual, the diesel to a six-speed manual. Elsewhere, the i20 is expected to utilise the i10's 1.0 litre three-cylinder and 1.25 litre four-cylinder engines, as well as the current i20's 1.4 litre petrol. A hot N-badged variant is also on the cards.