Hyundai's All-New i10 City Car Debuts at Bologna Motor Show

• New i10 is star of Italy's motor show
• On sale in UK on 1st March 2008
• Air conditioning standard across the range

LONDON - December 7, 2007: The city of Bologna is famous as the source of the spaghetti sauce that bears its name. But this week it’s in the spotlight as the venue for Italy ’s annual motor show - and the star is the all-new Hyundai i10 city car.

Italians will think the i10 is the perfect recipe for a small car, thanks to its stylish looks, high equipment levels and low running costs. The demand for this type of model in Italy is massive, with small vehicles taking an amazing 60 percent of the market!

Here in Britain too demand for Hyundai’s new baby is set to soar, with sales of the i10 expected to be double that of its predecessor, the Amica.

The exciting new city car is designed to be fun-to-drive, affordable and practical while offering quality and equipment that no other rival can offer at the price. Uniquely in the class, this includes air conditioning in all versions as standard.

With diminutive dimensions of just 3,565mm long and 1,595mm wide, the i10 promises to be easy to thread through city traffic and a doddle to slot in tight parking spaces.

Although it has compact dimensions, the i10 has a wheelbase of 2,380mm – the longest in the class. With the wheels pushed far into each corner there is more space inside for people and luggage, with a massive 910 litres of total boot space with the seats down – that’s more than many so-called superminis.

Unlike some competitors the i10 is a full five seater and has five-door practicality as standard too.

Prices are expected to start at less than £6,500 but i10 owners won’t feel they are driving something that has been stripped out to keep costs low. In addition to having air conditioning as standard, even the entry-level model will have electric windows, central locking, electric power steering, tinted glass, 14-inch wheels, body coloured bumpers and an integrated six-speaker CD/MP3 stereo.

To ensure high safety standards across the range, all i10s will have four airbags with a passenger side cut-off switch.

All i10 models will be powered by a 67PS, 1.1-litre petrol engine mated to either a manual or automatic gearbox. The gearshift is mounted on the centre console to improve ergonomics and free up the space between the driver and passenger seat.

Manual versions will be capable of an official average fuel consumption of around 60mpg and produce just 119g/km of CO2, qualifying for the VED ‘tax disc’ rate of £35 a year and exemption from the new London Congestion Charge proposals due to take effect in February.

Like all Hyundai cars, the i10 will also be covered by a five year, unlimited mileage warranty to provide peace of mind motoring for half a decade.