Your first look at the next Hyundai i20

Friends, Romans, pensioners, lend us your ears. This is your first look at the next Hyundai i20, South Korea's answer to the Fiesta, Corsa and Clio.

Actually, it's not quite your first look at the next Hyundai i20. It's your first look at how the next Hyundai i20 might look if it existed in Cartoon Superhero world.

Even so, we suspect the rest of the car world may be eyeing these two renders warily.

As Hyundai, and sister firm Kia, have made great strides into European markets in the few years, the i20 - first introduced in 2007 - hasn't quite put the frighteners on the competition the same degree as the i10 and i30.

But Hyundai reckons this all-new version - due for official unveil at the Paris show in October, and likely going on sale in the UK in early 2015 - will shove the South Koreans to the front of arguably the most hotly contested sector in the UK.

"The long hood and generous shape create a powerful stance for New Generation i20," promises the marketing spiel, somehow managing to make a practical supermini sound like a brand of isotonic drink. "The body sides are sculpted yet the overall architecture is clear and simple."

So there you go. We're also promised a ‘bold new interpretation' of Hyundai's trademark hexagonal grille, a wraparound rear window and darkened C-pillar. Oh, and ‘a unique treatment for the lamp clusters'. We suspect DeathLasers.

Reckon this one could be a looker? And isn't about time you got in on the hot hatch game, Hyundai?