The i10? Isn’t that a highway?
It is, and ‘the 10’ stretches all the way from California to Florida. Hyundai has altogether different ideas for its i10, because this is their new city car. It replaces the unloved Amica, and is the second Hyundai to get the ‘i’ tag, no doubt annoying Apple in the process.
So is it bigger all round than the Amica?
Actually, no. The i10 is exactly the same length (3565mm) and width (1595mm). Apparently this makes it ‘a pleasure to park in tight car parks’. The wheelbase is also the same 2380mm as the Amica, which is 40mm longer than the Toyota/Citroen/Peugeot triplets. The i10 press release also takes a dig at the trio, declaring that baby Hyundai ‘has a proper tailgate rather than just a piece of glass’.
So if it’s no bigger, what are the emissions like?
Is 119g/km okay? It’s definitely okay for the proposed London Congestion Charge, the i10 just sneaking under the 120g/km limit, which would mean no cost to motor around in London. The engine itself is a 66bhp 1.1-litre petrol, with a dash-mounted gear stick. There are no official figures yet, but the i10 will surpass 60mpg.
Anything else?
Hyundai hopes i10 will start at under £6500 (£6499, anyone?), and all cars will come with air-con as standard, apparently a class first. All i10s also come with five doors, five seats, electric front windows, central locking, 14-inch wheels, body-coloured bumpers, and four air bags. The baby Hyundai will be in dealers from March 2008, with a five year warranty. The Korean manufacturer hopes all this will double its UK small car sales to 10,000 units per year for 2009.