Hyundai HB20 & HB20X debut in Brazil

Hyundai has debuted the HB20 hatchback and HB20X Crossover at the Sao Paulo Motor Show in Brazil.

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Just as it does in Europe, Hyundai creates cars for specific markets around the world, and builds them there too. So with the Sao Paulo Motor Show up and running in Brazil, Hyundai has debuted a couple of new models – the HB20 and HB20X.

The Hyundai HB20 – which shares its basic underpinnings with Europe’s i20 – has, say Hyundai, been developed exclusively for the Brazilian market and comes in a choice of nine trim levels and with a choice of a 1.0 litre and 1.6 litre flex fuel engines with a five-speed manual, or an auto option on the 1.6 litre.

Changes to the Brazilian HB20 (HB stands for ‘Hyundai Brazil’) include specific setup for Brazilian roads (which can be even worse than ours), cosmetic tweaks to the exterior and a different interior.

The Hyundai HB20X is a little rufty-tufty version of the HB20 with extra plastic cladding, a raised ride height, a new nose, titivated interior, roof rails and a bigger set of 15″ wheels. The HB20X only comes with the 1.6 litre petrol engine.

Both the HB20 and HB20X (which will be joined by an HB20 saloon in 2013) are to be built in Hyundai’s new facility at Piracicaba near Sao Paulo which has a 150,000 annual production capacity.

And perhaps the arrival of the HB20X in Brazil signals Hyundai’s intention to make the next ix20 more a rufty-tufty mini SUV crossover than a baby MPV? Or maybe we’ll just get a new Hyundai i20X instead?

Hyunida HB20 & HB20X Photos >>