Hyundai Punts On Three Of A Kind
The Age
Wednesday October 15, 2008
Ani 20 city car will be sold along side the Getz and Accent, Richard Blackburn reports.
HYUNDAI aims to offer three different cars in the same market segment from next year, with its new, upmarket, European-designed i20 city car tipped to be sold alongside the Getz and Accent.The company's director of sales and marketing, Kevin McCann, says the three cars can sell side-by-side without cannibalising each other."With the i20, we'll really be targeting alternatives mainly offered by Japanese brands - things like the Mazda2 and Toyota Yaris - so it will be positioned a little bit above the Getz range," he says.The Accent, meanwhile, was aimed squarely at fleet customers, so there was little crossover.Mr McCann says the i20 is getting closer to local introduction: "We're well advanced in the feasibility program that you have to go through to bring in a new model and there aren't any major roadblocks."The i20 is the second small hatch to be designed at Hyundai's European Design Centre in Russelsheim, Germany, following the release last year of its bigger sibling, the i30.As with the i30, the i20 has been designed to appeal to European driving tastes, which means it is likely to have dramatically better road manners than the current Getz.The i30 is the best-handling Hyundai yet and the i20 is likely to retain the focus on increased driving enjoyment.The new five-door (a three-door version will follow later) rides on a longer wheelbase than the current Getz, which means it should feel more secure on the road and have more interior space. Expect the interior fit and finish to be a big leap forward from both the Getz and the Accent, which sell side-by-side in the light segment in Australia.The exterior design is also a big improvement over the Korean maker's current offerings, with sharp European lines reminiscent of the Volkswagen Polo.Hyundai also confirms it will extend its i30 range to include a wagon variant in the first quarter of next year.The pricing has not yet been revealed, but the car will have diesel and petrol models.The i30 CW has a slightly longer wheelbase than the hatch and has 22% more cargo capacity.The vehicle is expected to have 17-inch alloys, USB and iPod connectivity, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, six airbags and stability control.The engine line-up will include the hatch's 1.6-litre turbo-diesel and 2.0-litre petrol engines.As with the i30 hatch, Hyundai claims the CW's suspension and steering will be tuned for Australian road conditions.The company also advises the new-model i30 will have stability control as standard.
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