Next gen Hyundai i20 makes European debut at Paris

Hyundai has launched the next generation i20 for the European markets at the 2014 Paris Motor Show. The new hatchback is already on sale in India as the Elite i20 and this gets few additional features and engine options for Europe.

The biggest announcement about the new i20 is that it will no longer be exported from Hyundai’s plant in Chennai as a CBU, but will be built at the Turkish factory with a production capacity of 5,00,000 units per annum. The new European car uses the same design theme as the Elite i20 with the addition of the LED day-time running lamps. Also without the restrictions on length of the car, the European version is well also over four metres.

Apart from the 1.2-litre petrol and 1.4-litre diesel engines available in India, Hyundai will also offer the 1.4-litre petrol and 1.1-litre diesel engines. More importantly, the next gen i20 gets the new T-GDI turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol engine delivering 120bhp and 172Nm of torque, from January.

Additional safety features for the European version include six airbags, hill start control, Lane Departure Warning System. The new i20 will be available in four trim levels and the deliveries will start early next month. Although none of the additional safety features will be available in India soon, the day-time running lamps may be offered as an optional extra in the coming months.