It's a big week for Korean automakers. As well as Kia announcing a new, improved Sorento, Hyundai has also come to the party with the announcement of production of the Hyundai i30 Tourer, now happening at the Czech plant in Nošovice.

The i30 has become a familiar sight on our roads in its hatchback guise and now the Tourer version adds height and cargo space to the compact, easy to drive base model.

Load capacity for the i30 Tourer is 528 litres with the seats up and 1,642 litres when the seats are down. Hyundai is also promising the same high level of safety in the Tourer as in the hatchback with its five-star Euro NCAP rating including a 90% score for the child occupant assessment with maximum points in the tests for 18-month-old and three-year-old kids.

The i30 Tourers will be produced alongside the ix35 and ix20 at the Czech plant and with 900 extra staff on board, a second transmission facility and third shift, production is up 39% from the same period last year.

UK prices and specs are expected shortly.

By Georgia Lewis

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