Development on the next-gen Hyundai i20 has moved to the winter testing phase ahead of its reveal at the Paris Motor Show held in October. Hyundai plans to capitalise on its entry into the WRC next year with a range of sporty models, starting with a version of the next Hyundai i20.
[ads id=”0″ style=”float:left;padding:5px;”]The 2014-spec i20 WRC (click here to view more) car has been testing extensively ahead of its WRC debut at next year’s Monte Carlo Rally and made a surprise appearance at Hyundai’s eve-of-motor-show event in Frankfurt.
Speaking exclusively to Auto Express, Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and COO of Hyundai Motor Europe, said: “We chose WRC instead of F1 because of the greater crossover with our road cars. We will have sporty derivatives as a spin-off of the WRC programme.”
A Hyundai insider told us that a hot version of the new i20 supermini, due to debut at the Paris Motor Show in September 2014, is the most likely first model to benefit from a WRC-style makeover.
“All brands need some sporty DNA,” said Rushforth, “And in the mind of consumers, Kia is probably sportier than we are. But we aim to be a bit more upmarket, like Bentley is to Volkswagen.”
