Hyundai i20 made it's debut at the Paris Motor Show 2008. Similar to its predecessor i10, the i20 will be manufactured exclusively in India and exported to other countries.
Designed and developed in Europe to meet the high expectations of European drivers, and benefiting from Hyundai&rsquos unlimited mileage five-year warranty, the i20 arrives fully armed to succeed in Europe&rsquos ultra-competitive supermini sector.
The i20 has been launched in 3 variants in India:
- i20 Magna
- i20 Asta
- i20 Asta(O)
The only difference in Asta & Asta(O) is that the O variant comes with side and curtain airbags which is a first for a car in this segment in India.
It has been initially launched with 1197cc Kappa petrol engine with 79 Bhp of maximum power and 110 Nm of torque. Hyundai is also planning to launch a CRDi variant in March/April 2009.
The 1.2 Kappa engine is peppy with a 12.9 second 0-60 time. The engine has been tuned for minimum emissions & maximum economy.
Fully loaded Asta comes with following features:
- Adjustable front and rear head rest
- Height Adjustable Driver's Seat
- Dash Integrated 2 DIN Music Player with USB port, 4 speakers & 2 front tweeters
- Steering mounted audio controls
- Cooled Glove box
- Electrically adjustable rear view mirrors
- Electrically foldable rear view mirrors.
- ABS with EBD
- Dual front, side & curtain airbags
Lower, longer and wider than the Getz it replaces all over world, the five-door i20 rides on an extended 2525mm wheelbase, enhancing its spacious interior architecture. Luxury and versatility blend seamlessly in the new i20&rsquos spacious and generously appointed cabin.
i20&rsquos list of standard features puts it head and shoulders above the majority of its rivals. The i20&rsquos five-seater interior majors on everyday practicalities, with a 40:60 split flat-folding rear bench with a low lip for easy loading into the 295-litre boot.
The i20 offers numerous intelligently positioned interior storage spaces including a large cooled passenger glovebox and two cupholders.
In keeping with its dynamic styling, i20 rides on an all-new platform with front MacPherson strut and rear torsion beam suspension to deliver the taut and alert ride quality favoured by the European market.
The new rack and pinion steering setup has also been tuned to deliver quick and accurate responses resulting in excellent urban agility.
It is protected by the extensive use of high-tensile steel in the Hyundai&rsquos robust chassis, airbags fitted as standard, active headrests, front seatbelt pretensioners and latest generation anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution.
The driving position is easily adjustable, and is on the high side, so visibility is excellent, the seats comfortable and the controls are easily accessible. Hyundai has switched to new electric power steering set up for the i20. It&rsquos accurate and weights up nicely at high speed.
It has been launched in 8 shades - Dark Grey, Sparkle Blue, Berry Red, Sleek Silver, Silky Biege, Black Diamond, Crystal & Electric Red. It has been priced at Rs. 4.79, 5.59 & 5.82 lakhs for Magna, Asta & Asta(O) respectively in New Delhi.
It is likely to replace the Hyundai's B-Segment Hatch - the Getz - all over the world. But in India Hyundai continues with the Getz prime and sells both the models side by side like they are doing with the Accent & Verna.
Shades available in Hyundai i20:
Hyundai i20 Promotional Video: