Currently reading: New Hyundai i10: sketch shows design revamp
Third generation of Korean firm's city car, set to be revealed at Frankfurt show, will get design makeover and tech upgrade

Hyundai has revealed a preview sketch showing the design of its third-generation Hyundai i10 city car ahead of it’s reveal at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

The sketch shows a new design direction for Hyundai's Volkswagen Up rival, with a new wider front grille reflecting the firm’s current styling. As with the current i10, the car’s daytime running lights are located within the grille. It also hints at what Hyundai calls an ‘X-shaped C-pillar’, which was first teased in a single preview image released by Hyundai last month.

Hyundai says the model will be designed, developed and built in Europe. While it hasn’t revealed any technical details, Hyundai does say the car will feature a “range of new connected car and safety features”, including smartphone connectivity, a reversing camera and a range of driver assistance systems. 

A heavily disguised i10 test mule has previously been spied undergoing winter testing.

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That car retained the familiar smaller footprint and upright stance of the outgoing i10 but had significant body cladding, including over the C-pillar, which appears to rise in the same way as that in the preview image.

Details of the interior are yet to be seen, but the Korean manufacturer is expected to boost perceived quality as well as introducing the promised advanced technology.

Interior space isn't likely to increase significantly, because the current i10 is only fractionally shorter than the latest Kia Picanto, with which the new model is expected to share its platform and mechanicals. Engines are expected to include the familiar 1.0-litre three-cylinder and 1.2-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol units, with a turbocharged 1.0-litre triple likely to make its way over from the range-topping Picanto.

Expect prices to rise slightly to reflect the improvements and changing markets.

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Our former city car favourite, the Hyundai i10, is replaced by a more grown-up model

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James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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DeadReckoning 12 September 2019

Price is now double what it

Price is now double what it was for first generation i10.

This will alienate the "seniors" market who don't buy their cars on PCP and don't really care about "go faster" styling, or don't want it.

Expect the KIA Picanto sales to pick up (basically the same as an i10) if they start from £11k

Carmad3 26 August 2019

Yes Please

If the finished car looks like the sketch then Hyundai has a real winner on its hands. It looks grear

gavsmit 7 August 2019

Nice unrealistic sketch

The concept sketch looks great, but I suspect the production model won't look anything like it, just like all concept art from the Kia / Hyundai stable that is supposed to preview production models. 

But one can dream that an i10N could look similar.......