Posting this early as I’ll be on a plane to Geneva Monday morning, heading for the annual knees-up that is Europe’s most important annual car expo. Hot news items to follow later in the week.
Hyundai is on a roll, with sales up a staggering 102 per cent last year. Most of that was due to the Scrappage Scheme, but it’s also down to excellent products. The i10 city car is the best in the segment bar none, and I’ve just driven the ix35 compact SUV, which is probably the best thing Hyundai has ever done. The i20 and i30 hatchbacks are also very competent, but lack that sparkle of a performance model. So when will we see one? Not for a long while yet, it seems. I had a very enjoyable chat with Tony Whitehorn over dinner last Wednesday. He told me: “We want to be a bit like VW, with core products and then performance ones. Do I think there should there be an i30 GTI? Yes, absolutely. We should have a performance derivative of each car in the range, because it would help to bring in a younger buyer. Will there be? There’s no plan. The company is open-minded to it and it’s not out of the question, but it’s not a priority for where they see the brand going.” It’s a shame, but at least the firm is going in the right direction. He revealed Hyundai will launch a Scirocco-rivalling coupé this time next year based on the Veloster concept (above), and there’s talk of a 1.6-litre turbo.
*Captain Jack’s Land Rover (see posting of 11 February) went under the hammer for £18k.
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