Six new Hyundai models next year

Hyundai’s new-model offensive will hit top gear next year, when the Korean importer will land at least five new and all-new models in Aussie showrooms.

Before then it will next month release two '30' special-edition SUVs, based on the Tucson and Santa Fe, to commemorate the brand’s 30th anniversary Down Under, followed in October by the sporty Elantra SR sedan.

But the real action begins next April, when Hyundai's vital new third-generation i30 hatchback arrives following its reveal in Frankfurt on September 7 and its world public debut at the Paris motor show on September 29.

The new i30 (pictured) is expected to arrive with a new 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine in addition to a 1.8-litre normally-aspirated unit carried over from the current model.

"It’s on the plan," said Hyundai Motor Company Australia COO, Scott Grant, of the i30's new downsized turbo four. "But it hasn’t been agreed that we’ll get it. That said, it is available in right-hand drive."

Grant said supply of the current i30 is strong, but that production will wind up in December. Depending on stocks, he said customers can expect some "pretty good deals on current stock around that time".

The regular i30 will be joined in the second half of 2017 by the first hot hatch version, the highly anticipated i30 N, which will rival the iconic Volkswagen Golf GTI in terms of price and performance – the latter thanks to a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four punching out around 200kW.

Grant said the i30 will take a big leap forward when it comes to size, quality and – potentially – price, which is currently listed from $20,990 plus on-road costs, or drive-away for the month of August.

"We’re worried about price, because things always tend to become a bit more expensive," said Grant of the next-gen i30.

"The new product is bigger, and we understand the quality of the product is up, so there’s some costs that go with that.

"We’re excited by the product but we just hope that we can get it priced and packaged right so that it meets market expectations," he admitted.

Next year will also see the release of Hyundai's first small SUV, to slot beneath the Tucson and rival the Mazda CX-3. The unnamed model will not be based on the Creta or ix25 sold elsewhere, but will be an all-new, as-yet-unseen model possibly topped by a sportier ‘N’ variant.

"We are getting a small SUV towards the end of next year, and that’s a completely new product," said Grant.

"We don’t know the details just yet, but its role will be an entry-level SUV to target [the Mazda] CX-3. It’s definitely smaller than a [Honda] HR-V, and it is an all-new product from the ground up," Grant continued.

"Now that Tucson has moved up in price and size, we’ve indicated to our parent company that the lower end of the $20,000 range is where it needs to be – ideally $19,990 would be a great place to start."

Hyundai has stated previously that other N-badged performance models will join the i30 in due course, and Grant suggested the all-new light-size SUV could be a candidate.

"It’ll be interesting to see what becomes available, because we’ve got quite a few products now that are turbocharged as well, and that’s something that could add another element to that product," he said, intimating that the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol from the next-gen i30 could feature under the bonnet.

"I’ve heard it discussed, the ‘hot hatch’ type product, and obviously it will be reasonably expensive, but the whole driving and sports experience is going to become an important part of our brand into the future."

Hyundai will also look to roll-out its Ioniq hybrid range through 2017, and Grant confirmed the Toyota Prius-challenging petrol-electric variant will be first on the list.

"At the moment it’s on the plan for next year," said Grant. "It’s available in three iterations, and it’s the hybrid we’ll take first.

"Next year the other two versions will also become available to us, and our issue is to figure out which one or ones we’ll take.

"Do we go EV, for example, or do we go for the plug-in hybrid? Depending on which way we go we could offer something a little bit different in the market, so we’re considering which way we go. My personal opinion is that the plug-in is a better option – it’s easier for the market to understand."

Hyundai Australia will also begin releasing a host of all-new Genesis models under the car-maker's new standalone premium brand, with the large (BMW 5 Series-size) G80 sedan and mid-size (3 Series-size) G70 sedan slated to land Down Under one after the other in the second half of 2017.

The two new Genesis sedans will be followed by small and large Genesis SUV models, which will arrive in local showrooms "post-2017", after which we'll also see the new Genesis coupe if it's produced in right-hand drive.

Hyundai's new model roll-out:
Tucson 30 Special Edition — September
Santa Fe 30 Special Edition — September
Elantra SR — October
i30 redesign — April 2017
Ioniq Hybrid — Mid-2017
Genesis G80 — Mid-2017
i30 N — September 2017
Small SUV — Late 2017
Ioniq PHEV — Late 2017
Genesis G70 — Late 2018
Small SUV N — Early 2018
Genesis SUV range — 2018
Genesis coupe — 2018