Hyundai unveils the New Generation i20 WRC for the 2016 World Rally Championship

Hyundai Motorsport has unveiled its brand new car for the 2016 FIA World Rally Championship, the New Generation i20 WRC, on Wednesday at team's factory in Alzenau, Germany.

The 2016 FIA World Rally Championship is Hyundai's third season in the championship. Hyundai has achieved a victory in its first season in 2014. But in the second season in 2015, it only took third place. The car manufacturer's team wants to make improvement in 2016 season by focusing on its brand new car.

According to Autoblog, the New Generation i20 WRC is powered by a 1.6-litre turbo charged petrol engine that produces air restricted maximums of 300 horse power at 6000 rpm and 295 lb ft at 5000 rpm. It has a six-speed sequential gearbox routes the power to the four-wheel drive system.

Hyundai's 2016 FIA WRC challenger has a five-door body based on the five-door i20 hatchback from Europe. The updated i20 WRC offers stiffer chassis and a tweaked suspension. The design features a more angular front end with harder edges around the grille and headlights, with the extra doors at the rear.

The new i20 WRC has completed almost 5000 miles of testing and proven to be quicker than its predecessor. Two of the New Generation i20 WRC will be ready on the opening of 2016 WRC in Monte Carlo in January. The third new car will be introduced at the 2016 WRC's second event in Sweden in February.

Hyundai Motorsport's Team Principal Michel Nandan said at the new racing car unveiling that the New Generation i20 WRC is the product of a full year development with a more experienced team. The team is raising objectives in the race and more confident to fight at the front.

According to CarScoops, the new i20 WRC will be driven by Dani Sordo, Hayden Paddon and Thierry Neuville in all 14 rounds of the Championship's 2016 calendar. Thierry Neuville was triumphing Hyundai's first season on WRC in Germany in 2014.

Hyundai's team has also retained a Dutch rally driver Kevin Abbring as Hyundai Motorsport Test Driver, according to Rally Sport Mag. Abbring has been Hyundai's main test driver since its second season on WRC in 2015.

He will test the new generation i20 for the 2016 WRC in a fourth car. The Dutch rising star will also be on managing the development of the team's 2017 WRC car and R5 activities.

Hyundai's R5 project will be unveiled in the next few weeks. Hyundai will undergo a development on its R5 during the first half of 2016, homologation in mid-2016, and the car will be available to order in the second half of next year.