Hyundai i40 Sedan World Premiere in Barcelona
- Latest version of landmark i40 to be revealed at Barcelona Motor Show
- Vehicle embodies ‘Modern Flow’ and ‘Premium Wing’ design concept
- i40 sedan shares same outstanding levels of fuel-efficiency, comfort, quality and safety as i40 wagon
Hyundai has unveiled the latest version of the D-segment i40 at the 2011 Barcelona Motor Show. The debut of the i40 sedan follows the global reveal of the i40 wagon at the Geneva Motor Show in March this year.
The i40 sedan boasts a purely European identity having 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 sedan will go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2011, supported by Hyundai’s industry-best, fully transparent Five Year Triple Care customer assurance. This package has been attracting European consumers to the brand through its combination of a five-year unlimited warranty, five years of roadside assistance and five years of vehicle health checks.
Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and COO of Hyundai Motor Europe, commented, “The reveal of the sedan represents the next step of the i40’s introduction to the European market, following the very positive reception for the i40 wagon. The i40 sedan shares the same qualities found in the wagon, including outstanding levels of fuel-efficiency, comfort, and quality, and broadens the appeal of the i40 to buyers in the D-segment.
“We have ambitious but achievable targets for the i40 range, expecting to sell 60,000 units in a full year and building on the momentum Hyundai has gained in Europe in recent years. The launch of i40 will help us reach 3% market share by the end of 2011,” Allan Rushforth concluded.
Design Inspiration
The i40 sedan represents the next evolution of Hyundai’s unique design language, ‘fluidic sculpture’.
The ‘fluidic sculpture’ design DNA is recognizable by flowing lines inspired by nature which combine to create a dynamic exterior, and was introduced on the Hyundai ix-onic concept car at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. Since this debut, ‘fluidic sculpture’ has been the design inspiration behind all new Hyundai models, such as the award-winning ix35, ix20 and Veloster.
The design concept key words for the i40 sedan are ‘modern flow’ and ‘premium wing,’ all evolving from the fluidic sculpture philosophy. Hyundai designers wanted to emphasize on creating fluidic volume with a modern touch as well as a sophisticated wing-like detail.
“We have used very strong, fluid lines from front to rear to give i40 a distinctive appearance,” commented Thomas Bürkle, Chief Designer at Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre. “We wanted to move away from the typical three-box sedan and create a car that was in keeping with the sporty nature of the i40 wagon. By sculpting a low, elongated roof line, we’ve given the i40 sedan a striking coupe-like silhouette,” Thomas Bürkle added.
The i40 sedan not only benefits from attractive styling, but also retains high levels of interior comfort, with a wheelbase measuring 2.77 meters and delivering best-in-class dimensions for front head (1,025mm), shoulder (1,455mm), and leg (1,170mm) room. This impressive roominess promises to give all occupants spending long periods of the time in i40 the most comfortable D-segment ride available.
“While the exterior of i40 sedan stands out for its fluidic form and distinctive appearance, the interior has been shaped to deliver practicality and comfort to the driver and passengers in a high-quality package,” Thomas Bürkle concluded.
Powertrains
The all-new i40 will be available with a choice of four Euro V-compliant engines: two petrol and two diesel. These units cover a power spread of 115 ps to 177 ps, with torque delivery extended across a wide engine-speed range, making the i40 an enjoyable car to drive around town or on the motorway. Manual and automatic transmissions will also be offered.
In a segment where diesel models represent over 75% of total sales in Europe, Hyundai is anticipating that the 1.7-litre diesel unit developing 136 ps will be the most popular engine among both private and fleet buyers. Overall, Hyundai is expecting a 65/35% spread between diesel and gasoline-powered i40 sales.
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 sedan with this engine and a six-speed manual gearbox will accelerate to 100 kph in just 9.7 seconds, record fuel economy figures of 6.8 l/100 km (combined cycle) and achieve a CO2 rating of just 159 g/km.
Eco credentials
In terms of environmental performance, the all-new i40 will feature the latest technologies developed under Hyundai’s Blue Drive™ eco-program, including Integrated Stop & Go (ISG), low rolling-resistance tyres and an alternator management system (AMS).
When combined with the 1.7-litre diesel engine developing 115 ps, the inclusion of Blue Drive technology results in the i40 achieving CO2 emissions and fuel economy figures of 113 g/km and 4.3 l/100km, respectively, making the i40 the most environmentally-friendly model in its segment.
Hyundai has continuously highlighted its commitment to lead the way along the road to long-term environmental sustainability for the auto industry, and i40 furthers the company’s commitment to delivering models with class-leading eco-performance.
Reduced NVH (Noise Vibration Harshness)
A new acoustic package was developed for Hyundai’s diesel powered i40. NVH performance, especially the exterior drive-by noise, is dramatically improved by using experimental methods such as Reciprocal Holography (to visualize noise reduction levels at certain frequency) and ADNA (Advanced Diagnostic Network Algorithm) to rank noise sources in the order of their identified transfer paths.
The NVH package aims to provide a quieter and more comfortable driving environment for diesel vehicles. The new acoustic package in i40 utilizes materials such as air permeable carpet, sound absorbing layers for engine-room encapsulation, and textile wheel-arch liners to absorb noise sources from engine, road, and muffler, providing a 20% improvement in interior noise levels and a reduction in outside engine noise when idling (compared to an i40 without these features).
High-tech features
By offering an extensive standard specification with numerous high-tech features, the high level of equipment in the i40 promises to be one of its key attractions to potential buyers.
High-tech features include smart-parking assist and lane-keeping assist systems, 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
The i40 uses the latest active and passive safety technologies to ensure maximum protection for its occupants. Active safety features, fitted as standard in several countries, 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, every i40 on the road in Europe will be fitted with up to nine airbags – 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.
Technical specifications
Hyundai i40 (sedan body style)
All figures are tentative – final figures will be confirmed at time of launch
Diesel engines
1.7-litre 115 ps
Type / capacity U-II, DOHC, four-cylinder, 16-valve with HLA / 1685 cc
Power / torque 115 ps (85 kW) @ 4000 rpm / 260 Nm (26.5kgm) @ 1250-2750 rpm
Emissions 122 g/km (113 g/km when fitted with ISG)
1.7-litre 136 ps
Type / capacity U-II, DOHC, four-cylinder, 16-valve with HLA / 1685 cc
Power / torque 136 ps (100 kW) @ 4000 rpm / 325 Nm (32,0kgm) @ 2000-2500 rpm
Emissions 124 g/km (119 g/km when fitted with ISG)
Gasoline engines
1.6-litre 135 ps
Type / capacity Gamma GDI, four-cylinder, 16-valve with MLA / 1591 cc
Power / torque 135 ps (99 kW) @ 6300 rpm / 164 Nm (16,8kgm) @ 4850 rpm
Emissions 149 g/km (140 g/km when fitted with ISG)
2.0-litre 177 ps
Type / capacity Nu GDI, four-cylinder, 16-valve with HLA & Swing ARM / 1999 cc
Power / torque 177 ps (130 kW) @ 6500 rpm / 208 Nm (21,7kgm) @ 4700 rpm
Emissions 156 g/km
Transmissions
1.7 / 115 1.7 / 136 1.6 / 135 2.0 / 177
Manual / speeds 6 6 6 6
Automatic / speeds ---- 6 ---- 6
Suspension & Damping
Front Fully independent subframe-mounted MacPherson struts, with coil springs and gas-filled shock absorbers. Anti-roll stabiliser bar.
Rear Fully independent subframe-mounted multi-links, coil springs and gas-filled ASD shock absorbers.
Steering
Type MDPS (Motor Driven Power Steering)
Gearing 2.88 turns lock-to-lock
Turning radius 5.46 metres
Brakes
Front 320 mm ventilated discs
Rear 300 mm solid discs
Wheels & Tyres
Standard 7,0Jx16 205/60 R16 tyres
7,5Jx17 215/50 R17 tyres
8,0Jx18 225/45 R18 tyres
Dimensions (mm)
Exterior
Overall length 4,740
Overall width 1,815 (excluding door mirrors)
Overall height 1,470
Wheelbase 2,770
Front overhang 920
Rear overhang 1,050
Front track 1,591
Rear track 1,597
Interior Front Rear
Head room 1,025 965
Leg room 1,170 850
Shoulder room 1,455 1,420
Capacities (litres)
Fuel tank 70 l
Luggage 503
Performance* (manual transmission)
1.7/115 1.7/136 1.6/135 2.0/177
Top speed (kph) 190 198 195 210
0-to-100 kph (sec) 12.9 10.6 11.6 9.7
Economy (manual transmission)
1.7/115 1.7/136 1.6/135 2.0/177
Litres / 100 km** 4,3 (ISG) 4,5(ISG) 6,0(ISG) 6,8
CO2 (g/km) 122 124 149 156
CO2 (g/km) with ISG 113 119 140 ----
* Figures stated are manufacturer’s estimates
-Ends-
Media Release
For further information contact the Global Public Relations Team
Tel: +82+2—3464-2153 ~ 60
Fax: +82+2—3464-3497
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Co. has grown into the Hyundai Motor Group which has ranked as the world’s fifth-largest automaker since 2007 and includes more than two dozen auto-related subsidiaries and affiliates. Hyundai Motor, which has six manufacturing bases outside of South Korea, sold approximately 3.6 million vehicles globally in 2010. Hyundai vehicles are sold in 186 countries through some 5,300 dealerships and showrooms. Further information about Hyundai Motor and its products is available at www.hyundai.com.
For more press materials, please visit www.cisionwire.com/hyundai-motor-company.
