Facelifted Hyundai i10 for global markets revealed

Hyundai has released the first set of pictures of the updated i10 hatchback that is to be sold in international markets.

The current-generation model is available as the Grand i10 in India but with a few changes and more interior room. The updated i10 will make its public debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show (October 1-16).

Styling updates on the refreshed i10 are predominantly on the front end, with the front grille now being wider, similar to the one seen on recent Hyundai models like the Elantra. The updated i10 gets unique round LED daytime running lights in addition to fog lamps on the lower end of the bumper. At the rear, there is a larger black insert with reflectors on the bumper. 

On the inside, the i10 facelift gets a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and navigation. This unit is likely to be an upgraded version of the one available in the Creta SUV sold in India.

The new i10 also gets the same set of diamond-cut alloy wheels like those seen on the Xcent compact sedan sold in India.

Other additions on the updated car include safety features such as front collision warning system and lane departure warning system. Hyundai says it has improved the i10's ride and handling by adding a larger front bump stopper and modified steering. The car is likely to continue with the same set of engines mated to either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic.

For India, Hyundai has already started testing the facelifted Grand i10 which is expected to be launched  in 2017.

High seller in Europe

Since its introduction back in 2008, the i10 has been a major success story for Hyundai Motor with around 670,000 units sold by July 2016. That makes it one of the best-selling cars in this segment in recent years.

The original i10 sold over half-a-million units in seven years between 2008 and 2014. When the second-generation i10 was introduced in late 2013 the model truly became a European car – designed and developed at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center (HMETC) in Rüsselsheim, Germany, and manufactured at Hyundai Assan Otomotive Sanayi (HAOS) in ĺzmit, Turkey.

The second-generation i10 with its modern design and dynamic drivability has sold more than 220,000 units in only three years.