The 2010 Paris Motor Show is just a month away. It has been scheduled to be held from 2 October to 17 October 2010, in Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles. For 2010, the theme of the special exhibition will be The Incredible Collection 2: automobile manufacturers collections and museums. So, since the name itself suggests that the exhibition will feature an incredible collection, we can expect amazing, hard-to-believe creations from major auto makers.

However, what grabs our attention the most at the moment is Hyundai’s iX20 Crossover MPV that will be showcased at the motor show. The first sketches of the car are out, and believe us, they are real impressive! Looks like the car has come out directly off a sci-fi movie, doesn’t it?

The South Korean auto maker has very well managed to capture the attention of compact car buyers in India. Hyundai’s compact models, the i10 and i20 have been well accepted and appreciated by buyers in the country. So, guess it’s time for something more. Will Hyundai bring the iX20 Crossover MPV here? If the car does make an entry, it may be competing against Maruti Suzuki’s upcoming RIII all-purpose vehicle.

Will it be feasible for the car maker to launch the iX20 in India? To a certain extent, the Hyundai i20 is localised and using the same basic parts will certainly keep the cost of the iX20 low. The compact crossover segment in India has already begun experiencing growth and it will only be enhanced once auto majors like Maruti and Ford bring in their crossover and MPV offerings which are currently in the developmental stages.

At the moment, the iX20 sketch reveals something that looks like the iX Metro concept. It is clear that the Korean manufacturer is trying to steer the car away from traditional boxy-MPV stereotypes. It instead flaunts a more dynamic and sportier profile in line which has taken Hyundai to new heights in recent times. This new car, the iX20, is believed to be following the footsteps of the iX35 or new Tucson as the next crossover in the Hyundai range.

Hyundai describes the car thus: “a vehicle with the ability to simultaneously serve as a functional people-carrier while providing a dynamic, fun-to-drive experience”. Well, let’s hope the new car lives up to Hyundai’s expectations and also hope that it comes to India. The iX20 hails from Hyundai’s European research and development centre in Germany. It happens to be the second Hyundai, after the ix35, to make use of the fluidic sculpture design language for Crossovers. Yes, fluidic structure is what Hyundai calls it.

While we are still not sure if it will find its way into the Indian market, the iX20 is slated to go on sale in Europe as early as November 2010. Besides the iX20, which is probably its show stopper, Hyundai would also be displaying a facelifted i10 VTVT at the Paris Motor Show. The revised i10 range would include a 1.0-litre model with CO2 emissions of 99 g/km.