SPY PICS: Hyundai's next top-seller

The replacement for Hyundai's top-selling model, the i30, has broken cover in Korea and Europe ahead of its world debut at the Paris motor show in late September.

The third-generation i30 is due on sale early next year in Australia, which has become its world's biggest market.

As such, a significant part of the all-new Korean small car's development was undertaken Down Under, where the current model outsold both the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3 to be the nation's top-selling new vehicle last month.

As these images show, development of the next i30 – which will form the basis of Hyundai's first high-performance N model also continues in Korea and Europe.

While mainstream versions of both the new i30 hatch and wagon will again come with small four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines matched with manual and automatic transmissions, the i30 N hot hatch will deliver more than 200kW and 300Nm.

Although it will remain front-wheel drive – at least initially – Hyundai's answer to the Golf GTI will also bring an electronic limited-slip differential, upgraded sports suspension and brakes, bigger wheels and a sports body kit.

All new i30s will wear significantly new body designs, headlined by a prominent new grille inspired by the one seen on the Genesis G80, the renamed and facelifted version of the original Genesis large sedan that's also due on sale here in the first half of next year.

Apart from the new i30, the G80 and the all-new Genesis G70 mid-size sedan, Hyundai will next year also launch its first hybrid model in Australia, the Ioniq.