Influenced by Hyundai Motor's design philosophy, fluidic sculpture, the new model i10 features sleek and substantial styling as well as new proportions that make it longer, wider and lower than its predecessor.

The model is said to offer one of the roomiest occupant cabins on the market, as well as a best-in-class 252 litres of trunk capacity, rising to 1,046 litres when the rear seats are folded – also a best-in-class figure. 

The brand also promises new levels of craftsmanship r, together with levels of comfort and safety equipment commonly only found in segments above.

The new model is designed, engineered and built in Europe and the brand is emphasizing that it is entirely aimed at European customers, with the UK set to play a major role.

Almost a third of all European sales of the previous model were in Britain, and much the same is expected of the new car, which will be launched in right-hand-drive form at the end of January.

The UK's importance for sales of the previous i10 is purely down to the scrappage schemes. Tony Whitehorn, the CEO of Hyundai UK, said: ‘In 2008 we launched the last model in the UK and in 2009 the scrappage scheme was introduced. The best advertisement for any car is to have it out there on the road and the scrappage scheme catapulted it forwards in terms of profile.

‘The secrets for success in a situation like that are publicity and stock. Before scrappage I was ordering about 1,000 [i10s] a month. But in one month in the build-up to scrappage I ordered 7,000. It was a risk, but in the three weeks between the Budget and the start of scrappage I sold 4,000. It got us onto people's shopping lists and we haven't looked back. This year we will sell 22,000 out of our total UK volume of around 80,000.’ 

With prices starting from £8,300, the new model will be priced higher than the original but is focused on what Hyundai Motor calls “true value” – the addition of desirable features from segments above and dynamic styling as well as high quality and high efficiency..

‘We're offering consumers something truly unique in New Generation i10 – an A-segment car consumers want to buy, not one they feel they have to.  It fully meets the rational needs of buyers in the cost-sensitive A-segment, yet delivers levels of comfort, driving pleasure and perceived quality from segments above,’ said Mark Hall, vice president of marketing, Hyundai Motor Europe.