2008 Paris Auto Show: Hyundai Targets Ford Fiesta With New i20

Hyundai laid out its plans for the 2008 Paris Auto Show on Wednesday, including its centerpiece, the i20, which has such stalwarts as the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo and Opel Corsa in its crosshairs. The all-new i20, which will join the ranks of Europe's supermini segment, makes its world premiere on October 2 as the replacement for the Hyundai Getz.

Hyundai, while being stingy with details, noted that the five-door has a "longer wheelbase than the existing Getz and is both bigger inside and more dynamic in appearance." The new i20 was designed at Hyundai's European Design Center in Russelsheim, Germany. Exterior cues include a chrome-topped grille and teardrop-shaped headlights.

"The i20 was designed and engineered to meet European tastes and needs," said Kun Hee Ahn, Hyundai Motor Europe president, in a statement. "It was built on an entirely new platform, and much of the ride and handling development took place on European roads."

There are no plans to bring the i20 to the U.S. at the moment.

Hyundai also said it will introduce a low-emissions i20 i-blue concept, which is based on the i20 production model, at the 2008 Paris Auto Show. The concept version gets Hyundai's new 1.4-liter CRDi diesel engine which delivers 88 horsepower and generates 162 pound-feet of torque. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Hyundai said the concept returns the equivalent of 45 miles per gallon.

Hyundai said it will also show off the Santa Fe gasoline-electric hybrid concept at the Paris auto show. The Korean automaker said this concept has a "new hybrid drive system which mates the current 2.4-liter [gasoline] engine to a six-speed automatic transmission and a 30kW electric motor powered by lithium-ion batteries." This concept returns the equivalent of 36 mpg.

Hyundai will also display its seven-passenger ix55 SUV at Paris. The ix55 is spun off the Hyundai Veracruz and is being shown in what is described as "production-ready form."