Indian Autos Blog reader, Mr. Karan Manocha, snapped the interior of the 2015 Hyundai i20 which is launching in India in the September-October period this year.
Though parts of the interior are camouflaged, some of the design aspects are readily visible. The steering for example seems to be a 3-spoke unit with integrated controls for the music system and Bluetooth telephony. The center console is finished in black unlike the current model which gets a silver console. Seen in the center stack is a music system with a blue ambient lighting (similar to the Verna) below which rests the controls for the automatic air-conditioning system.
The gearbox on this test mule is a five-speed manual unit with a normal shifting action for reverse gear, determined by the knob markings (the current i20 uses a lift-type lock and an abnormal L-pattern to engage reverse). The five-speed manual in the current i20 is reserved for the 1.2L petrol variant.
From little else of what otherwise is visible, the new i20's interior is a step or two above the current model. Cabin space is expected to be improved, though the car will be under four meters long.
Under the hood, the 2015 i20 will likely soldier on with the existing set of engines. These include 1.2- and 1.4-liter petrol motors and a 1.4-liter diesel engine. The more powerful petrol is matched to a 4-speed automatic transmission.
The i20 is a successful product for Hyundai in India with average monthly sales accounting for 3,997 units (January-May 2014 period).
Competitors: VW Polo, Maruti Swift, Honda Jazz, Fiat Punto, Tata Bolt
Expected Price: INR 5-8 lakhs ex-showroom
