Photo: auto.ifeng.com
One again, a very important new car is spotted early in China, before it ever reaches European or American consumers. This is the new Hyundai ix25, a crucial new crossover from the Korean automaker that seems to be turning a new leaf with its designs.
The ix25 photos scooped by Auto iFeng show a production car, likely locally assembled and arriving at some sort of gathering of Chinese car dealers. It's muscular for a car this size and features the latest design language, so there's a good chance we could see it sold outside the people's republic. LED accents in the headlights resemble those of the new Genesis and the grille remind us of the current Santa Fe.
Based on the same platform as the i20 supermini, this crossover will reportedly receive 1.6- and 2-liter engines for its imminent debut and has dimensions slightly bigger than most B-segment crossovers. At 4,270mm long, ix25s will be bigger than the Renault Captur or Nissan Juke, but about the same size as the Chevrolet Trax, which is probably going to be its biggest rival in China.
Right now, the official word is that Hyundai will not sell the ix25 outside of China. But that just doesn't make sense. During this winter, camouflaged prototypes were testing on a frozen lake in Northern Sweden in difficult conditions.
Why go to all the trouble of testing in Europe and hiding your work if you're not going to launch it into the ever-growing European crossover market? We find it far more likely that Hyundai hasn't decided where to assemble the ix25 or is planning a late European debut. US Hyundai dealers have also said they would like a small crossover and Kia is currently mulling a sub-Sportage model.
Based on the same platform as the i20 supermini, this crossover will reportedly receive 1.6- and 2-liter engines for its imminent debut and has dimensions slightly bigger than most B-segment crossovers. At 4,270mm long, ix25s will be bigger than the Renault Captur or Nissan Juke, but about the same size as the Chevrolet Trax, which is probably going to be its biggest rival in China.
Right now, the official word is that Hyundai will not sell the ix25 outside of China. But that just doesn't make sense. During this winter, camouflaged prototypes were testing on a frozen lake in Northern Sweden in difficult conditions.
Why go to all the trouble of testing in Europe and hiding your work if you're not going to launch it into the ever-growing European crossover market? We find it far more likely that Hyundai hasn't decided where to assemble the ix25 or is planning a late European debut. US Hyundai dealers have also said they would like a small crossover and Kia is currently mulling a sub-Sportage model.
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