New 2021 Hyundai Bayon crossover to be revealed tomorrow

Hyundai will tomorrow unveil the new Bayon, an entry-level SUV to rival the Toyota Yaris Cross and Ford Puma. 

It is the first production car designed under the brand's new 'sensuous sportiness' banner, as previewed by the radical Le Fil Rouge and Prophecy concepts, which Hyundai said combines "emotional value with innovative solutions in design". 

Details visible in the latest round of preview images suggest the Bayon will draw influence from the front end of the recently facelifted Kona, with a slim air intake, high-mounted headlights and separate daytime running lights among its defining features. The rear end will make a more obvious departure from the rest of Hyundai's line-up, with arrow-shaped light clusters linked by a thin red line and a contrasting black boot panel. 

Designed primarily for the European market, the crossover has been named Bayon in reference to the French city of Bayonne, a hub for outdoor sporting activities, which Hyundai says highlights "the lifestyle character" of the new model.

It will be the smallest model in Hyundai's SUV line-up, sitting underneath the Hyundai Kona, which has recently been redesigned and updated for 2021. 

Given the model's size and positioning, it can be expected to share much of its mechanical make-up with existing Hyundai and Kia models, which means it is unlikely to gain an electric version.

It's likely that, as with the Yaris Cross and Puma, the Bayon will take its underpinnings from a smaller-bodied supermini, in this case the Hyundai i20. 

That would mean a petrol-only engine line-up comprising an 84bhp naturally aspirated 1.2-litre four-cylinder, a 99bhp mild-hybrid 1.0-litre turbo and a range-topping 118bhp version of the same engine.

Five- and six-speed manual gearboxes would be available, as well as a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.