Brand-new Hyundai i20 to use platform of the next-generation Kia Rio 2012 – Model Year!
Here are the latest spy shots of the all-new Hyundai i20! This is a near-future B-segment car from Hyundai Motor Company, which is set to replace the ageing Getz hatchback. Getting the new i20 moniker, the sub-compact car will be joining Hyundai’s European line-up somewhere between March and July next year!
Why is this important to us? Well, the i20′s platform, you are looking at right now, will be used as a base for the next-generation Kia Rio. Kia’s future small hatchback (and 4-door sedan) has already gone under development, according to sources close to Kia and we can expect it to hit the U.S. roads in about two years.
Already the third generation Kia Rio (i20 twin model) will be designed under the guidance of Mr. Peter Schreyer, Kia’s new chief design. He has overseen the development of the Kia Kee concept car, which has recently been displayed at the auto show in Frankfurt.
The Kee concept car was very well recieved by the public, so you can expect the future production-ready Rio hatchback to adopt some of the styling cues from the hot-looking concept!
A few more words on the new Hyundai i20 – Kia Rio sibling…
Hyundai Getz is reaching the end of its life-cycle and tha carmaker has been working hard to replace it with the all-new i20 model. First prototypes of the new Hyundai i20 have already been spotted undergoing final development testing in the Southern European mountains.
The all-new Hyundai i20 will be positioned below the brand’s popular i30 hatchback and will take on the VW Polo, Ford Fiesta and Renault Clio. Power is expected to come from a variety of petrol engines ranging between 70 and 110 horsepower and turbodiesel engines ranging between 88 and 110 horsepower.
Hyundai-Kia i20 image gallery:
September 27th, 2007 at 1:56 am
This comes as a bit of a surprise to me, and while I don’t doubt the accuracy of your sources, I think it may take a while for the impact of a new Hyundai hatchback to permeate the Asia Pacific region. The Getz Prime is starting to pick up in popularity in India, and Philippine sales of the Getz are increasing exponentially. It’s selling just as briskly as the Honda Jazz, and thanks to Hyundai Philippines’ innovative pricing schemes, is outselling the more expensive Toyota Yaris and lesser evils Suzuki Alto and Chevy Spark. (I don’t have current data for the Kia Picanto, but any sales for Kia is still a good thing for Hyundai.)
Hopefully, Hyundai may consider either adapting this particular model to its sister company’s Rio, or market it side-by-side with the Getz. I think the Getz still has legs good for another three to five years in Asia, especially in late-blooming Philippines, where the Getz community would be outraged by a phaseout of a model that is rapidly gaining in popularity and reputation. It hasn’t been around longer than three years here; phasing it out in 2008 would send shockwaves through the Getz fan community.
September 27th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
i think that the new rio/accent plataform will bne showed until 2009, but the actual platafor it’s too new to be replaced
July 31st, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I wish that the 2009 Kia Rio would change its looks…my 2008 Rio had hale storm damage at the point of being totaled… Dan