Now on sale: i20 three-door leads the way for value
(Offenbach, July 1st 2009) This month Hyundai further strengthens its small-car offering with the launch of a new derivative in the i20 supermini family. The three-door model, which received its world premiere last March at the Geneva Motor Show, is expected to take the fight to its competitors by providing greater levels of equipment and efficiency for an attractive price.
Joining its recently-launched five-door brother, the i20 three-door is available in Classic, Comfort and Style trim levels – all of which provide a very competitive package, beating key competitors throughout Europe. In Germany, for example, the entry-level i20 Classic is priced 11.5 per cent below the market average B-segment vehicle, despite the fact that its comprehensive specification places it ahead of its nearest rivals. For instance, a four-speaker radio/CD system with MP3-compatability is fitted as standard, whereas audio is only an option on competitor vehicles.
The i20’s overall value is enhanced by its class-leading safety package, which earned the car five stars in an independent assessment by Euro NCAP’s earlier this year. Safety remains a key priority for Hyundai, as demonstrated by the standard fitment of side curtains airbags, active front head restraints and four disc brakes on all variants, including the three-door Classic – no rival has such a wealth of features.
In addition to i20’s high-value positioning, its fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions make it a strong performer on running costs. Expected to be the best-selling engine choice, the all-new 1.2-litre, 78 PS ‘Kappa’ petrol engine is lighter and more economical than its key competitors. With CO2 emissions of just 124g/km, the Kappa engine emits up to 15g/km less than rivals and consumes just 5.2l/100km on the combined cycle. Similarly, when equipped with the company’s 1.4-litre 75 PS diesel engine – with a CO2 rating of 116g/km and fuel efficiency figure of 4.4l/100km on the combined cycle – the i20 remains top of its class.
The i20 three-door benefits from Hyundai’s unlimited-mileage, three-year warranty, for added peace of mind.
Allan Rushforth, Vice President of Hyundai Motor Europe, commented, “In this difficult financial climate, consumers are in search of a brand they can trust to provide reliable vehicles of quality in an affordable package. Hyundai is increasingly recognized in Europe for providing these essential requirements, and the i20 three-door enhances our strong line-up of compact, efficient vehicles specifically engineered for European drivers. Its value advantage compared to rivals will contribute to our continued growth in market share.”
In the first five months of 2009 Hyundai has taken 2.3 per cent of all new-car sales in Europe – up from 1.7 per cent for the same period last year.
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Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Co. has grown into the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group which was ranked as the world’s fifth largest automaker since 2007 and includes over two dozen auto-related subsidiaries and affiliates. Employing over 75,000 people worldwide, Hyundai Motor sold approximately 2.8 million vehicles globally in 2008, posting sales of US$25.6 billion on a non-consolidated basis (using the average currency exchange of 1257.5 won per US dollar). Hyundai vehicles are sold in 193 countries through some 6,000 dealerships and showrooms. Further information about Hyundai Motor and its products is available at http://www.hyundai.com/ | 
