Hyundai has revealed the first teaser images and details of the successor for its i30, Australia's top-selling car so far this year, ahead of its global reveal in Frankfurt on September 7.
Again aimed directly at the world's most popular small cars including the Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus, the third-generation i30 will make its global public premiere at the Paris motor show on September 29.
The 'New Generation Hyundai i30' will then go on sale in Australia next year, when the first N-badged hot hatch version to rival the likes of the Golf GTI will also be released.
As evidenced by its lack of bonnet vents, the car in these three teaser shots is the standard i30 – not the low-slung i30 N that will pack a circa-200kW 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four – and it's clear it will take another step upmarket.
Described by Hyundai as being "more refined and timeless", the sleek new exterior design wraps a vehicle that was "designed, developed and tested in Europe", says the giant Korean car-maker.
Chief design cues include a large new "cascading" grille design with satin chrome surround, chunky shoulder line, back-swept headlights and prominent lower LED daytime running lamps.
“It’s a car for everybody," said Hyundai Motor Group President and Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer, who can also be seen in this short i30 design video.
"For the design of the New Generation Hyundai i30, we didn’t just look at one customer, we focused on a wide range of different people.
"The design is an evolution of Hyundai Motor’s design language with natural flowing lines, refined surfaces and a sculpted body to create a timeless appearance.
"With the New Generation i30, we are introducing our further developed grille: the Cascading grille.”
No other information has been released ahead of the new i30's full exterior, interior and technical presentation in Germany next month.
However, Hyundai claims it will deliver "highest value, an efficient and dynamic powertrain line-up, state-of-the-art safety and connectivity to meet European and global customers’ needs".