Hyundai i40 saloon unveiled
Thursday 12 May 2011
• Two petrol and two diesel engines
• Blue Drive model achieves 65.7mpg
• Well equipped
The Hyundai i40 saloon has just been unveiled at the Barcelona motor show, a family hatchback the Korean company is hoping will temp buyers away from rivals like the Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Insignia and Mazda 6.
It follows on from the Hyundai i40 estate announced earlier in the year and effectively replaces the Hyundai Sonata. Despite its looks, the i40 is actually a four-door saloon. Hyundai describes it as a ‘four-door coupe’, but in reality it will more easily mistaken for a hatchback when it arrives in the UK in autumn this year. Hyundai is promising class-leading levels of space and comfort inside the i40, despite the coupe claim.
The all-new i40 will be offered with a choice of two petrol and two diesel engines, with power ranging from 115bhp in the entry-level 1.7-litre diesel up to a 175bhp 2-litre petrol. A 133bhp 1.6-litre petrol and 1.7-litre diesel producing 134bhp complete the engine line-up. The latter will be available with a 6-speed automatic gearbox as an option.
Hyundai is also offering the option of its Blue Drive technology, which features stop and start technology and low-resistance tyres, which lowers the lower-powered diesel’s CO2 emissions to 113g/km with average fuel consumption of 65.7mpg.
The Hyundai i40 promises to be well equipped, with Bluetooth connectivity, sat-nav, rear-view camera, park assist, ventilated front sears, headed and reclining rear seats, heated steering wheel and xenon headlights available, although many of these will be optional extras.
The company is also confident of achieving a full five-star safety rating when the i40 is tested by Euro NCAP thanks, in part, to its seven standard airbags.
Prices will be announced closer to the i40 saloon’s on-sale date in the final quarter of this year.
By Owen Ready