2018 Hyundai Elite i20 facelift in the making; spied for first time

Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has updated the Elite i20 hatchback with dual-tone colours and more features earlier this month for a starting price of Rs 5.36 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The South Korean car-maker is reportedly also working on another facelift version of Elite i20.

Also read: 2017 Hyundai Elite i20 launched with dual-tone colours, more features

The purported model was recently snapped in heavy camouflage in Chennai for the first time by Autocar. The camouflaged Elite i20 was part of a convoy of test mules that also included the all-new Verna, which is expected in India in August.

The current-generation Hyundai i20 was globally introduced in 2014 and hence this should be a mid-life facelift. The spy shot indicates a comprehensive change for the face of Elite i20.

Hyundai will do away with the two-part grille and a large hexagonal grille featuring chrome outline in line with the new Xcent will be the highlight.

Christened Cascading Grille, the new grill design had made its debut with the new i30 revealed in September last year. The headlamps look slimmer than the one in current model and angular in line with the new Elantra. To accommodate the new grille and headlamps, front bumper will also be tweaked. 

The side profile of the car is expected to remain the same. The rear of the spotted model was highly camouflaged and that indicates significant changes. The engine options on the Elite i20 facelift are expected to carry over.

Elite i20 comes powered with 1.2-litre petrol, 1.4-litre CRDi diesel and a 1.4-litre four-cylinder VTVT petrol engines.

Hyundai may also bring a 1.0-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder petrol engine that develops 100bhp paired to a six-speed manual gearbox with the new model. This engine is currently plonked in the i20 Turbo edition sold in UK. It is expected to go up against Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS.

Picture source: Autocar