Uncamouflaged test mule of Hyundai i30 spotted again on Indian roads

The Hyundai i30 is still undergoing road testing in India, spy shots published by MotorBeam have revealed. The compact hatchback was spotted here for the first time in early March this year.

The lack of a camouflage on and no usage of disguised elements in the test mule indicates that it’s not here for evaluation for a potential market launch. Hyundai is probably testing one or more components in the car here for some reason.

The Hyundai i30 is Hyundai’s VW Golf rival in global markets and also competes with the Ford Focus, Toyota Auris (Toyota Corolla Hatchback), Seat Leon and Mazda3 Hatchback among others. The spy shots show the third generation model that was introduced at the 2016 Paris Motor Show.

Hyundai was evaluating the i30 for India when it was in its second generation. The company had shown the (second-gen) i30 at Auto Expo 2016. Soon after the third-gen model debuted, a source had revealed to IAB that Hyundai had ruled out the i30 for India.

The third-gen Hyundai i30 measures 4,340 mm in length, 1,795 mm in width and 1,465 mm in height. Its wheelbase spans a length of 2,650 mm. Hyundai offers it with a wide range of conventional petrol and diesel engines with displacements ranging from 1.0- to 2.0-litre, A 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission sends drive to the front wheels.

LED projector headlamps, LED DRLs, LED fog lamps, 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels, LED rear combination lamps, panoramic sunroof, metal pedals, heated and ventilated front seats with 10-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and wireless smartphone charging pad are some of the key features of the Hyundai i30.

Hyundai equips the family hatchback with a plethora of safety and driver assistance features such as seven airbags, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Blind Spot Detection System (BSD), Driver Attention Alert, Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) with Lane Keep Assist (LKAS) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).

Also Read: Hyundai i20 CVT officially launched, prices start at INR 7.04 lakh

In the near future, Hyundai will mainly focus on highly localised cars positioned below the Hyundai i30 in India. Later this year, the company will launch the Hyundai AH2 entry-level hatchback. Next year, the Hyundai Carlino sub-4 metre SUV will arrive as a rival to the Maruti Vitara Brezza, Ford EcoSport, Tata Nexon, and Mahindra S201.

[Image Source: MotorBeam]