Hyundai has unveiled the latest version of the D-segment i40 at the 2011 Barcelona Motor Show. The debut of the i40 saloon follows the global reveal of the i40 tourer at the Geneva Motor Show in March this year. The i40 saloon has been designed and engineered at the European R&D headquarters of Hyundai in Rüsselsheim, Germany. The car is the latest model to be unveiled under the company’s new brand slogan – ‘New Thinking. New Possibilities’. The 4.74-metre long i40 saloon will go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2011 in Europe.
The i40 saloon represents the next evolution of Hyundai’s unique design language, ‘fluidic sculpture’. The i40 saloon retains high levels of interior comfort, with a wheelbase measuring 2.77 metres and delivering best-in-class dimensions for front head (1025mm), shoulder (1455mm), and leg (1170mm) room.
The all-new i40 will be available with a choice of four Euro V-compliant engines: two petrol and two diesel. Manual and automatic transmissions will also be offered. Hyundai’s all new four-cylinder 2-litre GDI engine, called ‘Nu’, makes its debut in the i40. It delivers higher torque for enhanced driving pleasure, improved fuel economy and reduced emissions and excellent NVH characteristics – similar to the multi-point fuel injected engine.
Equipped with GDI (gasoline direct injection) this 1,999 cc unit generates 177 ps and 213 Nm of torque, ensuring that the i40 brings a good balance between performance and fuel economy. An i40 saloon with this engine and a six-speed manual gearbox will accelerate to 62 mph in just 9,7 seconds, record fuel economy figures of 41.5 mpg (combined cycle) and achieve a CO2 rating of just 159 g/km.
In terms of environmental performance the car will feature Intelligent Stop & Go (ISG), low rolling-resistance tyres and an alternator management system (AMS).
Other features include smart-parking assist and lane departure warning system, as well as connectivity items like Bluetooth® with voice recognition and full map navigation with rear view camera. In terms of comfort and convenience, the i40 will be available with an electric parking brake, front air ventilation seats, heated and reclining rear seats, as well as new features for the segment like auto-defog system, and a heated steering wheel.
Advanced lighting innovations, such as standard day-time running lights with Xenon headlamps (optional)or a TFT(Thin Film Transistor) LCD supervision instrument cluster, will further strengthen the i40’s position as the lead model in Hyundai’s line-up and the European D-segment. Safety features include ESP (Electronic Stability Program), ABS (anti-lock braking system), Hill Start Assist Control (to prevent roll-back when starting on an incline), VSM (Vehicle Stability Management), Brake Assist System and Emergency Stop Signal. In terms of passive safety, the i40 on the road in the UK will be fitted with seven airbags as standard – front, side and curtain, with driver knee airbag available as standard on all models. Hyundai anticipates the i40 to continue the company’s excellent safety record and attain the maximum 5-star result under Euro NCAP’s impact assessment.
