New Hyundai i20 Coupe brings added sporty flavour
A sleeker, more stylish three-door Hyundai i20 called the i20 Coupe will go on sale in the UK next year
Just months after revealing its Fiesta-rivalling i20 hatchback, South Korean carmaker, Hyundai has unveiled a sleeker and more stylish three-door coupe, aimed at younger, ‘lifestyle-oriented’ buyers.
Despite sharing its platform with the standard i20, the next-generation Coupe features a largely unique body. The A, B and C pillars are all more steeply raked and there’s a lower, sloping roofline.
At the front there’s a hexagonal grille and redesigned bumpers, while along the side the i20 Coupe gets matching sill mouldings and sharp door creases. At the rear you’ll find a small roof spoiler, new tail lamps and refreshed bumpers.
Eduardo Remairez, General Manager for Hyundai’s European Design Centre, said: “The front of the new i20 Coupe lowers the visual stance and emphasises its road-hugging character.”
It’s clear Hyundai is targeting a different market with its new Coupe, to that of the conventional hatchback. The unique 17-inch alloy wheels and Tangerine Orange paint are aimed at an altogether more fashionable and sporty clientele.
However, don’t be fooled by the sleeker profile. The i20 Coupe boasts a best-in-class boot capacity of 336 litres, which is not only larger than cars such as the five-door Ford Focus, but 10 litres bigger than the standard i20 hatchback. Things in the back are likely to feel more cramped, but easy entry front seats with memory functionality should make it easy to clamber in, despite the lack of rear doors.
Standard equipment and specifications are expected to mirror the i20 hatchback, while things like a heated steering wheel and lane departure warning system can be added as options.
While the new i20 Coupe can be had with a range of 1.25 and 1.4-litre petrol engines, or 1.1 and 1.4-litre diesel units, the big news is introduction of a new turbocharged 1.0-litre, due later in 2015.
The three-cylinder petrol is the first of a new generation of small turbocharged engines, which Hyundai says will offer enhanced performance, driving enjoyment and efficiency. The 1.0-litre T-GDI will be available with either 99bhp or 123bhp, with the latter designed specifically with driving enjoyment in mind.
Tony Whitehorn, President & CEO, Hyundai Motor UK, said: "The 1.0-litre turbo is an interesting proposition. It ticks a lot of boxes – CO2, fuel economy, horsepower – all these elements are exactly what everyone wants. By downsizing CC, you can achieve all of this."
The new i20 Coupe is part of Hyundai’s ‘Product Momentum 2017’ plans announced today in Frankfurt, Germany. It is the third of 22 new or updated models due by 2017 and has been designed in Europe and will be made at the HAOS plant in Izmit, Turkey. Hyundai says it expect the new i20 family – including the Coupe and more versatile hatchback – to account for 20,000 units annually in the UK.
Make sure you read our news on the refreshed i40, new i30 Turbo, and Hyundai’s plans to axe the slow-selling Veloster from the expanding model range.
Do you think the i20 Coupe looks sporty? Would you buy one? Let us know in the comments below…
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