Kia POP Electric Car Concept Revealed Ahead of Paris Debut

Kia has just released new images of the POP Concept, ahead of the concept's debut in Paris. The Kia POP was designed by the company's European design team under the direction of Peter Schreyer, Kia’s Chief Design Officer, and Gregory Guillaume, Kia Europe's Chief Designer.

"A concept car like the Kia POP could only have come from us," explains Gregory Guillaume. "Designers very rarely have the opportunity to start from a clean sheet of paper and it’s great to be in a position to operate with such freedom."

Unfortunately, the company did not release any additional information regarding the Kia POP. What we do know so far about the Kia POP concept
is that it's a three-meter long three-seater powered by an electric motor. The seating configuration of the Kia POP includes a front bench and an additional rear seat. The Kia POP also seems to have a "different" door opening mechanism.

We'll have more details on the Kia POP concept at the time of its premiere in France next week.

[Source: Kia]

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Hyundai ix20: Live Shots of Unveiling Ahead of Paris Debut

After our recent tidal wave of posts on the new Hyundai ix20, we have now obtained the first live shots of Hyundai's new compact MPV from a private press unveiling ahead of its scheduled debut in Paris. From these shots, we can appreciate the "Fluidic sculpture" design theme really take form through the sleek styling of the ix20. Nonetheless, we can definitely see its kinship to the Kia Venga, which the ix20 is based on.

Continue after the jump to view more live shots of the new Hyundai ix20!

Click here for our comprehensive post on the Hyundai ix20.

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Hyundai ix20: New Pictures Before Paris Unveiling

Click here for our comprehensive post on the Hyundai ix20.

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Paris Preview: Hyundai i10 Refreshed for 2011

Hyundai has finally taken the wraps off the 2011 i10, ahead of its official unveiling scheduled for later this month at the Paris Motor Show. Hyundai's popular city car receives an all new front fascia for its mid-cycle facelift, incorporating the brand's corporate hexagonal front grille. In addition to the new grille, the new Hyundai i10 gets a new set of headlamps as well as side mirrors with integrated turn signals.

From the lone photo we received from Hyundai, it appears that little else has changed for the new i10 other than the redesigned alloy wheels. From our recent spy shots, the 2011MY i10 also receives a redesigned rear bumper and revised taillamps. The interior, from our spy shot post before, seems nearly untouched, so expect only minor trim/equipment changes there.

More significant than the styling updates, however, are the changes underneath the hood as the i10 receives a new 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine with 68-horsepower and less than 100g/km CO2 emissions.

The i10 will make its world premiere along with the new ix20 MPV at this month's Paris Motor Show.

[Source: Hyundai]

Click READ MORE for a comparison shot with the pre-facelift Hyundai i10!

2011 Hyundai i10 (Facelift)


2010 Hyundai i10 (Pre-facelift)

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Hyundai ix20 Revealed Ahead of Paris Debut

The first images of the Hyundai ix20 have leaked onto the web today, ahead of the new MPV's world premiere at the Paris auto show this month. Originally, the company has released only a teaser sketch of the Hyundai ix20, but today, courtesy of the British press, we have the first official studio images of the Hyundai ix20.

Designed in Hyundai's Russelsheim, Germany studio, the ix20 is based on the Kia Venga compact MPV. The front fascia of the ix20 sports Hyundai's corporate hexagonal grille, as well as the signature sweeping headlights of Hyundai's "fluidic sculpture" design.

The car will be available with a choice of two diesel engines and two petrol engines. The 1.4 diesels come with either 76bhp or 89bhp. There will also be a 89bhp 1.4 petrol, as well as a 123bhp 1.6-litre petrol.

The equipment list of the Hyundai ix20 will include Start/Stop technology, Bluetooth, parking sensors, six airbags, ESP and air-conditioning. Options include a panoramic sunroof, which actually opens, and a reversing camera incorporated into the rear-view mirror.

In the UK, the Hyundai ix20 will go on sale on November 11th of this year with an estimated starting price tag of £11,395. Sales and pricing information for other European markets are to be released later.

[Source: What Car?]

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2010 Paris Preview: Hyundai ix20

Hyundai is set to unveil an all-new production model, dubbed the ix20, at the Paris Auto Show later this month, in the form of a subcompact crossover that will share its platform with the i20 and Kia Venga, revealed late last year.

The ix20 is the latest of Hyundai's new models to adopt the company's 'Fluidic Sculpture' design language, already visible on the likes of the Sonata-replacing i45 and the Tucson-replacing ix35.

Designed and developed at Hyundai's German studios, the ix20 is described as a "striking departure from the boxy 'minivan' image typically associated with the segment."

Hyundai is keeping technical details close to its chest for now, but we can likely expect the ix20 to share the same 1.4 litre diesel and 1.1 and 1.4 litre petrol engines as the Venga.

[Source: Hyundai]

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Paris: Kia unveils Soul and hybrid counterpart

Kia has unveiled its Soul urban crossover vehicle at the Mondial de l’Automobile show in Paris, along with concept models of the cee’d Hybrid and Soul Hybrid, the hydrogen-powered Sportage FCEV prototype, and the cee’d with new ISG (Idle Stop & Go). The Soul will be sold globally, including in North America.

In Europe, the Soul will be offered with a diesel or gasoline engine, based closely on the 1.6-litre units produced for the Kia cee’d model. For Canada, the U.S. and some non-European general markets, the Soul will come with a 2.0-litre gasoline engine. For European models, fuel consumption ranges from 5.1 to 6.6 L/100 km. Soul models sold in North America and in the majority of countries in Western Europe will be fitted with standard electronic stability control, four disc brakes and six airbags.

Kia is also displaying four models in its “Green Zone” in Paris: the cee’d ISG, Soul Hybrid, cee’d Hybrid and Sportage FCEV. Kia’s new ISG system, which makes its world premiere at Paris, will be available on Kia cee’d gasoline models from early 2009. The system cuts fuel consumption and emissions in heavy traffic by up to 15 per cent. The hybrid concept cars use a 1.6-litre gasoline engine mated to an electronic motor and automatic transmission, while the FCEV model’s latest generation contains a higher-output 100 kW fuel cell and a range of 300 km.

[Source: Kia]

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More images of Hyundai i20 surface before Paris debut

Hyundai has released more official images of the subcompact i20. Slated to debut at the upcoming Paris International Motor Show on October 2nd, the i20 will replace the Getz/Click/TB. Slotting between the i10 and i30, the i20 is designed with the European market in mind - emphasizing build quality, comfort, and value.

The Hyundai i20 rides on an all new platform. Its new styling is highlighted by the bold side creases and an overall European impression that cues the Opel Corsa. It will be offered with 1.2L and 1.4L petrol engines, a 1.4L diesel engine, and a new 1.4L common-rail diesel that will power the fuel-sipping i20 i-Blue. The i-Blue's eco-friendly diesel produces 89 bhp and 162 lb.ft of torque. It features a 6-speed manual transmission rather than the standard 5-speed manual, low-resistance tires, under-floor covers, aerodynamic changes, and low-friction engine oil. These changes result in an emission rating of 99g/km of CO2 and achieve 68MPG.

More details will be released when the i20 debuts at the Paris Motor Show on October 2nd. A three-door variant is expected to be released a few months after the five-door's debut.

Continue reading to view more images, including interior images and real-life shots.

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