Hyundai Automotive South Africa has confirmed it plans to launch the new i20 hatchback towards the middle of 2021.

Stanley Anderson, sales and operations director at Hyundai Automotive SA, told CARmag.co.za at the launch of the new Grand i10 that the Korean firm planned to introduce the third-generation i20 to local customers in “June or July 2021”.

As with the current i20, the new version will be imported from India, though it is expected to share much with the model unveiled for Europe in February 2020 (separately, Anderson talked about the chances of the i20 N hot hatch coming to South Africa).

That Euro-spec version is some 5 mm longer and 30 mm wider than its predecessor, while the roofline has been lowered by 24 mm and the wheelbase extended by 10 mm. This, says Hyundai, has resulted in more rear passenger space, while luggage capacity has improved by 25 litres to a claimed 351 litres.

Markets in Europe are set to receive two engines and three transmission choices. The first is a 1,0 T-GDi petrol mill offered in two states of tune (74 kW and 88 kW), while the second is a naturally aspirated 1,2-litre four-cylinder petrol unit that generates 62 kW.

Hyundai is expected to launch the new i20 in India in early November 2020, with the first units having already been delivered to dealerships.

Original article from Car