BEIJING MOTOR SHOW: Hyundai's smallest SUV

Hyundai has revealed the ix25 concept in China, previewing an all-new small SUV that will go on sale in the world’s most populous nation later this year – with other nations, including Australia, likely to follow.

Measuring 4270mm long, 1780mm wide and 1630mm high, the ix25 is 140mm shorter, 40mm narrower and 25mm lower than the ix35, the smallest SUV Hyundai currently sells.

Based on the same platform as Hyundai’s next-generation i20 hatchback, which makes its world debut at the Paris motor show in October, the ix25 rides on a 2590mm wheelbase – 65mm longer than the current i20’s and 50mm shorter than the ix35’s.

Power comes from Hyundai’s latest 2.0-litre ‘Nu’ four-cylinder petrol engine, which drives the front wheels. However, as with the next i20, the production ix25 is expected to be powered by 1.4- and 1.6-litre petrol engines.

No other information has been announced for the pint-sized city-crossover, which is wrapped in Hyundai’s latest ‘Fluidic Sculpture 2.0’ design theme.

Hyundai first revealed a small SUV concept in 2011, in the form of the sleeker and more rounded Curb concept, but the ix25 borrows clear design cues from the larger ix35 and Santa Fe large SUV.

Hyundai says the ix25, the first image of which was leaked last week is “another strategic pillar for Hyundai Motor in the world’s largest auto market”.

“The ix25 will mainly target the young generation who seek style and practicality at the same time, and Hyundai Motor is planning various marketing activities to attract them,” said China’s second largest car-maker.

If sold here, the ix25 would be Hyundai’s first entrant in the booming small SUV segment including sub-$25,000 models like the Holden Trax, Ford EcoSport and Peugeot 2008, plus the upcoming Mazda CX-3, Honda HR-V and Volkswagen Taigun.

A sister model from Kia, based on the Niro concept, is also expected to emerge soon.

Hyundai also used Asia’s largest 2014 motor show to stage the Chinese debut of its second-generation Genesis sedan, which goes on sale here later this year.

China’s Genesis four-door will be powered by 3.0- and 3.3-litre GDI direct-injection petrol engines, although we’ll see only a 3.8-litre V6 driving the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

It will go on sale here by October – around the same time as the next-generation Sonata, the front-drive mid-size petrol sedan that will eschew the i45 nameplate in Australia, where the similarly sized but also diesel-powered i40 sedan and wagon continues alongside.

The ix25 is expected to be offered in markets outside China once demand there is satisfied, but it’s unclear whether models for overseas markets will be produced in China or Korea.