All-new Hyundai i10 caught undergoing pre-launch testing in Chennai

| All-new i10 caught testing in Chennai |

| This is the third-generation of Hyundai's highly-successful hatchback |

| Indian launch is expected towards the end of August |

Hyundai's smash hit, Grand i10, is at the fag end of its life cycle. Launched in 2013, the hatchback - together with the i20 and the Creta - has been the mainstay of the Korean brand's stronghold in India. That the Grand i10 is still a staple in the list of best-selling cars in the country stands testimony to it's popularity and success. 

The upcoming third-generation model, then, has quite big shoes to fill in. Slated for a launch in India later this month followed by it's global debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the all-new i10 was caught undergoing what should be one of its final rounds of testing in the busy GST Road in Chennai.

While the first-generation i10 was Made-in-India for the world, Hyundai followed a different approach for the car's second-generation. Europe had a smaller version similar in size to it's predecessor while India had a bigger version with a longer wheelbase and a 'Grand' prefix. For the third-generation though, Hyundai appears to be going back to 'one-size-and-shape-fits-all' strategy.

Compare the two test mules featured in the post with the teaser image posted by Hyundai Europe and you will know why. The C-pillar featuring a rising window-line that shrinks and then expands into a wraparound rear windshield hints at an aggressive and stylish makeover hidden beneath the camouflage. Like all new Hyundais, design cues like the cascading grille and wraparound lights are expected to be part of i10's roster. In terms of size, expect the all-new model to be on par with the current Grand i10; that should make it a fairly-spacious urban runabout.

The interiors are likely to undergo a complete makeover as well with all the features and connectivity options we have come to expect in this day and age. Hyundai is likely to retain the 1.2-liter Kappa petrol and the 1.1-liter U2 diesel engines, albeit with both of them upgraded to meet BS-VI emission norms. While the 5-speed manual transmission is likely to be carried over, the archaic 4-speed automatic transmission is rumoured to give way to an in-house developed Automated Manual Transmission. 

With Maruti-Suzuki going all guns blazing with the new Swift, the new i10 can't come any sooner for Hyundai. This battle would be an interesting one to watch!