Hyundai has revealed first images of its new VW Golf-challenging i30 family hatchback, prior to its full world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week.
The new model shows the latest evolution of Hyundai’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ design style.
Designed in Germany, the new Hyundai i30 was created by Hyundai chief designer Thomas Burkle. He said a strong character line defines the shape, running over the front and rear wheelarches into the rear tail lights.
‘A softer, lower character line rises up the car’s flank creating a play of light and shadow.’ Apparently, this is a fundamental feature of fluidic sculpture.
It has a Hyundai face including a hexagonal-shaped grille, plus Hyundai’s familiar jewel-like headlights and L-shaped daytime running light LEDs.
Hyundai has bold ambitions for the new i30. Hyundai Motor Europe vice president Allan Rushforth said it’s been designed to take on the leading models in the family hatchback sector – cars such as the VW Golf and Ford Focus – ‘and joins the all-new i40 as a quality benchmark for Hyundai.
‘We expect the new-generation i30 to appeal to young, progressive buyers who want a car that not only performs well but looks great too.’
More details will be revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It has a hard act to follow, though: impressively, the current-shape Hyundai i30 saw sales increase every year since its introduction in 2007. Normally, sales decline as a vehicle ages.
More than 350,000 current-shape Hyundai i30 have so far been sold in Europe. The new model is expected to go on sale in early 2012.
