Hyundai ix20 (2010) first official teaser sketch

Hyundai is the latest car manufacturer to join the mini-MPV party, with the upcoming ix20, and ahead of its preview at the Paris motor show at the end of this month, the Korean company has released this teaser sketch. Designed and developed at Hyundai’s European research and development centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the ix20 is essentially Hyundai’s version of sister firm Kia’s Venga. 

Hyundai would have you believe it’s a little bit of both – the ‘ix’ moniker has been chosen to suggest its cross-over like capability. The Korean manufacturer says the ix20 is ‘a vehicle with the ability to simultaneously serve as a functional people-carrier while providing a dynamic, fun-to-drive experience’; the Venga has shown that it’s a capable and competent, if unexciting, small MPV.

The ix20 takes on some of the styling cues from the bigger ix35, and is the latest car to adopt the company’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ design language. Hopefully the ix20 will remain faithful to the sketch’s chunky styling without being toned down too much by the time it reaches production. Hyundai is keeping details of engines and pricing under wraps for now, however it’s likely to share the same 1.4 diesel and 1.1 and 1.4 petrols as the Venga.  

The ix20 will debut on 30 September at the Paris motor show, and UK sales will start in November 2010. Hyundai will also showcase its new i10, with a revised 1.0-litre, sub-100g/km petrol engine, as well as the latest developments in its Blue Drive eco range.

By Adam Sloman