The latest version of Hyundai’s best-selling model, the i10 city car, will go on sale in the UK on 30 January 2014, with prices starting at £8,345.

Appearing over five years after its predecessor went on sale, the New Generation i10 represents significant progress for the brand in the A-segment. Hyundai has already sold over 110,000 units of the Original i10 in the UK alone since launch in April 2008 accounting for one third of European sales.

The New Generation i10 features a more expressive design both inside and out, while generous levels of comfort, quality and safety equipment enhance the car’s appeal even further.

It is equipped with a host of standard and optional equipment typically found on cars from segments above. Automatic climate control, heated leather steering wheel and cruise control provide additional comfort, while safety features include the standard-fitment of Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and six airbags.

The New Generation i10 will be available with two refined and efficient petrol engines.  The 1.0-litre, three-cylinder powertrain has an output of 66PS.  Maximum power is produced at 5,500rpm, 700rpm earlier than in Original i10, while peak torque of 94Nm is available from 3,500rpm.  In manual form, it can travel from standstill to 62mph in 14.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 96mph.

Expected to take approximately 40% of total sales, the four-cylinder 1.2-litre engine delivers 87PS at 6,000rpm. Maximum torque of 120Nm is available from 4,000rpm.

When mated to manual transmission, it can accelerate from standstill to 62mph in 12.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 106mph.

High-tensile steel forms 29.2 per cent of the body structure of New Generation i10 – a huge increase over the nine per cent utilised in Original i10.  The firm underpinnings not only improve the car’s impact-resistance, but yield significant improvements in noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).

Other NVH counter-measures include larger hydraulic mountings for the engine, a triple-layer dashboard bulkhead with sound-deadening panel, dual door sealing strips, and two measures to reduce wind noise –careful refinement of the shape of the door mirror mounts and moving the radio antenna towards the rear of the roof.  The results of the measures are impressive, with noise levels as low as 38dB at idle and 65dB on rough surfaces –noticeably below those of key rivals.

Longer (+80mm), wider (+65mm) and lower (-50mm) than its predecessor, the New Generation i10 also delivers best-in-class* legroom and luggage capacity for an A-segment car. Front and rear passengers benefit from a combined 1,890mm of legroom while luggage capacity is increased by 10 per cent to 252 litres with the seats up.

It will be available with up to seven exterior colours and 4 interior colour trims depending on model.

The New Generation i10 aligns with Hyundai’s new trim strategy first seen on the New ix35. The range begins with the new S trim, which starts at £8,345 OTR – the same entry price as the outgoing model.

As standard, the S trim comes specified with the 1.0-litre powertrain, cloth interior trim in black with beige inserts, 14 inch steel wheels, central locking, electric front windows, CD tuner + USB, Daytime Running Lights, ISOfix and tilt adjust steering wheel as standard.  The S Air with the addition of air-conditioning will be available from £8,995.00.

Moving up to the mid-trim SE, customers will benefit from remote central locking, electric rear windows, electric heated door mirrors, body colour door handles and mirrors, driver’s seat height adjustment and black B pillar.  The SE is available in 1.0-litre manual, 1.0-litre Blue Drive with ISG (4 seat), 1.2-litre manual and the 1.2-litre automatic variants. Blue accent cloth interior trim is standard with vibrant orange accent cloth trim available as a no-cost option. Prices begin at £9,295.

The range-topping Premium trim sets new standards for equipment in the A- segment. 14 inch alloys, Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition, steering wheel controls, LED daytime running lights, front fog lamps, rear speakers, drivers safety window, door mirror indicators, Emergency Stop Signal are all available as standard, ensuring customers receive the very best value for money for Hyundai’s popular city car. The interior and exterior design and perceived quality is further enhanced with the addition of side body mouldings, leather steering wheel and gear stick and chrome effect interior door handle and parking brake. The Blue accent cloth interior comes as standard. Vibrant orange interior is available as a no-cost option and the woven pattered cloth interior in red with black leather-like side panels comes as a cost-option on the 1.2-litre Premium.  Prices start from £9,995 OTR.

All models come standard with 5-seats, apart from the SE Blue Drive derivative which is available with 4-seats.

Customers looking for additional comfort and individuality can specify optional equipment, which includes metallic paint, 14 and 15 inch alloys, space saver emergency spare wheel, the Connectivity Pack (which includes Bluetooth with voice recognition, rear speakers and steering wheel controls), the Winter Pack (heated leather steering wheel and heated front seats) and the Driver Assist pack (rear parking sensors and cruise control with speed limiter).

The New Generation i10 is produced at Hyundai’s manufacturing plant in Izmit, Turkey, which recently received a £420 million upgrade to accommodate the increased production.

Tony Whitehorn, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor UK, said: “The i10 has proved to be a hugely popular model in Hyundai’s range and it has successfully maintained annual sales above 20,000 units since 2009. The New Generation i10 builds on this success with a more expressive and stylish car that majors on refinement, quality, safety, generous specification and also value. With this in mind, Hyundai expects that the new model will still appeal to both existing i10 owners as well as those customers who may not have considered Hyundai in the past.”

As with all Hyundai’s passenger cars, the New Generation i10 is backed by the brand’s industry leading 5 Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty, which offers amongst the best warranty cover in the industry as judged by Auto Express magazine. This includes five years unlimited mileage warranty, five years free roadside assistance and five years of annual vehicle healthchecks, which give customers ultimate peace of mind.

Prices for the New Generation i10 range are as follows:

Source: Hyundai