What's the news?
In what is becoming an increasingly common phenomenon in the motoring world right now, another major carmaker has announced a new model destined purely for China. This time, it's Hyundai whipping the covers off the small ix25 SUV crossover at the Beijing show, but could we one day see it in Europe?
It's certainly stylish enough. Hyundai's design ethos range-wide is called 'Fluidic Sculpture' and the ix25 concept is claimed to be version 2.0; although if you imagine a shrink-washed ix35, you're probably closer to the mark. Compact at just 4,270mm long, it's also 1,780mm wide, 1,630mm tall and has a 2,590mm wheelbase. It is powered by a 'Nu' 2.0-litre petrol engine, although there are no more details on that as yet.
Compact SUVs are proving popular globally so it's highly likely the ix25 will make it to production for Europe, especially given it is based on the pre-existing Kia Soul - therefore, any showroom version is more likely to use that car's pair of 1.6-litre engines. Priced correctly, the ix25 could be a viable alternative to vehicles such as the Skoda Yeti, Renault Captur and Vauxhall Mokka.
Anything else?
Alongside the ix25 was the Hyundai Genesis, a car that received its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. However, the spec of the Chinese model is subtly different to the 3.8-litre V6 model shown in Switzerland, as either 3.0- or 3.3-litre petrol engines will be offered in the Far East. The Genesis also has a 'HTRAC' all-wheel drive system, automatic emergency braking, head-up display and a 'smart' boot. It will go on sale in China later this year.
Matt Robinson - 24 Apr 2014