Hyundai unveils i40 saloon

Hyundai has taken the wraps off its i40 mid-size saloon. The new model’s debut, at the Barcelona Motor Show, follows the unveiling of the i40 estate at Geneva back in March.

Hyundai i40 Saloon (2012) Front Side
Hyundai i40. Scroll down for more images.

Styled and engineered by Hyundai at its facility in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the i40 develops the ‘fluidic sculpture’ design language first seen on the ix-onic concept car. This is meant to endow the car with ‘flowing lines inspired by nature which combine to create a dynamic exterior’, although the result has ended up bearing more than a passing resemblance to the Ford Mondeo.

There’ll be a choice of two petrol and two diesel engines, with the latter unsurprisingly expected to account for around two-thirds of sales in Europe. As per normal nowadays, they come with various devices designed to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions such as stop-start, an intelligent alternator and low rolling resistance tyres.

Hyundai i40 saloon engine specifications
1.6 litre 135 PS Petrol
Type Gamma GDI, four-cylinder, 16-valve with MLA
Capacity 1,591 cc
Power 133 bhp (99 kW / 135 PS) @ 6,300 rpm
Torque 164 Nm (120 lb/ft) @ 4,850 rpm
Emissions 149 g/km (140 g/km with stop-start)
Fuel consumption 47.0 mpg (6.0 l/100km)
0-100 km/h (62 mph) 11.6 secs
Top speed 121 mph (195 km/h)
2.0 litre 177 PS Petrol
Type Nu GDI, four-cylinder, 16-valve with HLA & Swing ARM
Capacity 1,999 cc
Power 174 bhp (130 kW / 177 PS) @ 6,500 rpm
Torque 208 Nm (153 lb/ft) @ 4,700 rpm
Emissions 156 g/km
Fuel consumption 41.5 mpg (6.8 l/100km)
0-100 km/h (62 mph) 9.7 secs
Top speed 130 mph (210 km/h)
1.7 litre 115 PS Diesel
Type U-II, DOHC, four-cylinder, 16-valve with HLA
Capacity 1,685 cc
Power 113 bhp (85 kW / 115 PS) @ 4,000 rpm
Torque 260 Nm (191 lb/ft) @ 1,250-2,750 rpm
Emissions 122 g/km (113 g/km with stop-start)
Fuel consumption 65.6 mpg (4.3 l/100km)
0-100 km/h (62 mph) 12.9 secs
Top speed 118 mph (190 km/h)
1.7 litre 136 PS Diesel
Type U-II, DOHC, four-cylinder, 16-valve with HLA
Capacity 1,685 cc
Power 134 bhp (100 kW / 136 PS) @ 4,000 rpm
Torque 325 Nm (239 lb/ft) @ 2,000-2,500 rpm
Emissions 124 g/km (119 g/km with stop-start)
Fuel consumption 62.7 mpg (4.5 l/100km)
0-100 km/h (62 mph) 10.6 secs
Top speed 123 mph (198 km/h)
All figures are manufacturer’s estimates; final figures to be confirmed at launch.

With sales not due to begin until the fourth quarter of 2011, exact specifications and prices have yet to be confirmed. However, Hyundai is promising that plenty of kit will be available including Bluetooth, parking assistance, a rear view camera, full-screen navigation and a lane departure warning system.

One inescapable issue for the UK market is that the i40 is a saloon, rather than a hatchback. Whether Hyundai’s decision to opt for that body style hurts sales remains to be seen.

Hyundai i40 Saloon (2012) FrontHyundai i40 Saloon (2012) Rear
Hyundai i40 Saloon (2012) Rear SideHyundai i40 Saloon (2012) Side

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts:

Saab 9-3 Aero Carlsson

Image
Saab has got experience of producing special editions in honour of rally driver Erik Carlsson, having previously named versions of the 900 and 9000 after him during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Now it has decided to do it again, this time to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Swedish driver’s first win in Britain’s RAC Rally, which was achieved at the wheel of a Saab 96. Thankfully, the company has resisted the urge to just bung some fancy alloys and a few other extra bits onto something like a mid-range diesel model. Instead, it appears to have resurrected the limited edition Turbo X from a couple of years ago, as the new edition similarly features a turbocharged 2.8 litre petrol V6, Saab’s XWD all-wheel drive system and a six-speed automatic gearbox. The result is the 9-3 Aero Carlsson saloon, which turns out to be a very rapid car. With 276 bhp (205 kW / 280 PS) and a healthy 400 Nm of torque, the 0-60 mph (96 km/h) dash takes just 6.9 seconds. But it’s in the mid-range t...
Read more

American spec Fiat 500

Image
Fiat has released the first details and images of the North American specification 500. The tiny city car will be available in Pop, Lounge and Sport trim levels, and is distinguished from the European version by its more aggressive front and rear bumpers, bigger grille and flared sills. Another unique feature is the engine. Fiat has decided to use the 1.4 MultiAir unit currently found in models such as the Fiat Punto Evo and Alfa Romeo MiTo. Perhaps it felt that using the forthcoming two-cylinder TwinAir in the American 500 would have been too much for markets there to take? There’s no word yet on what power output the MultiAir will have, although in its current applications it comes with either 103 bhp (77 kW / 105 PS), 133 bhp (99 kW / 135 PS) or 167 bhp (125 kW / 170 PS). Similarly, prices have yet to be confirmed, but hopefully both details will have been sorted out by the time the order book for the 500 hatch opens later this year. For convertible fans, the 500C is due ...
Read more

i10 N Line versus the Up! GTI

Image
Hyundai has confirmed specifications and pricing for its sporty i10 N Line. This new variant – which arrives at dealers later this month – benefits from some cosmetic tweaks, unique suspension components and a more powerful 1.0 litre T-GDi turbocharged petrol engine.
Read more