Hyundai has confirmed that a beefed-up version of the i20 supermini, dubbed the i20 Active, will go on sale in Europe early next year following a planned debut at the Frankfurt motor show later this month.
The i20 Active has already been spotted testing, and will become a rival for Volkswagen's CrossPolo when it goes on sale. Its dimensions make it slightly shorter and wider than the conventional five-door hatchback, although its ride height has been raised by 20mm. The Active shares its platform and wheelbase with the regular i20.
The new model also receives skid plates at the front and rear , and cladding across its wheel arches to give a pseudo-SUV appearance.
It’s likely that Hyundai’s engineers have been tweaking the i20 Active’s chassis settings for European roads. They also appear to have altered the cabin; the interior of the car spied had extensive cladding to keep it hidden - a sign that the design and materials are quite different from the versions of the car already on sale in emerging markets.
Two engines are likely to be offered initially - a 99bhp 1.4-litre petrol unit and an 89bhp 1.4 diesel. However, Hyundai has also confirmed that its new three-cylinder 1.0-litre engine will also be offered, in both 99bhp and 118bhp forms.
Pricing for the i20 Active is likely to be announced following its Frankfurt debut, but it's expected to cost more than the regular hatchback, which starts at £10,995.
Hyundai continues to ‘evaluate’ the small SUV market, although it does have a Chinese-built model, the ix25, that could feasibly be fast-tracked to European markets with only modest regional modifications.
Read more:
Blog - How small could a Hyundai SUV go?
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