We might as well be living in the crossover era, with customers gradually shifting to vehicles that possess the attributes of both passenger cars and SUVs. South Korean automaker Hyundai is making yet another contribution to that trend, as it announced the coming of its all-new Bayon SUV.
That distinctive tail lamp hints at a dynamic machine
The model is the culmination of a rumor that began two years ago, taking the first step to reality when the trademark was filed with the European Union in August 2020. Anticipated to be the smallest among Hyundai’s offerings in the Old Continent, the Bayon will slot below the Kona, Tucson, Nexo, and Santa Fe.
Being a European product, it comes as no surprise that the Bayon is named after a European locale. In this case, the namesake is Bayonne, a French town located between the Atlantic coast and the Pyrenees mountains known for recreational activities such as sailing and hiking.
Hyundai hopes to strike a link between Bayonne’s lifestyle reputation and the upcoming Bayon’s projected image of a fun, sporty vehicle.
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The Bayon joins Hyundai's stable of SUVs doing well in the European market, including the Nexo (above)
“Hyundai is strongly established in the European SUV market already, in terms of our model range as well as our sales success,” says Andreas Christoph-Hofmann, Hyundai Europe Vice President of Marketing & Product. ”By launching a new, additional B-segment model as the entry point in our SUV lineup, we see a great opportunity to cover European customers’ demand even better and to increase our offering in a highly popular segment.”
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A likely platform for the Bayon could be based on the i20
Considering the Bayon’s position in the Hyundai European hierarchy, there’s little doubt that it will be based on an existing platform. The i20 hatchback is an ideal candidate, which means that a 1.2L gasoline engine making 84 hp, a 1.0L turbocharged mild-hybrid producing 99 hp, and a more powerful 118 hp version are the likely power plant options.
Transmission choices might range from a five-speed manual to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Details are scarce for now, with Hyundai only saying that the Bayon will launch in the first half of 2021.
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