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Hyundai i40 sketches revealed

Mondeo-rivalling i40 arrives as estate first, set to feature impressive space, downsized engines and lots of kit.

Hyundai i40 estate front

By Tom Phillips

13th December 2010

Wagons roll at Hyundai! The Korean firm is set to take on the VW Passat from next year with this, the new i40. The newcomer has been developed by Hyundai’s German R&D centre in Russelsheim specifically with European buyers in mind.

So in order to coax people from their Passats and Avensis’, the i40 will debut as an estate first, with Hyundai claiming the car offers more space for passengers and luggage that its key rivals. The i40 debuts at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The estate arrives in the UK in May, and the saloon follows in November.

Underneath, Hyundai has borrowed the front and rear of two different platforms, the Elantra and Sonata respectively, to create a chassis which the firm hopes has what it takes to outhandle the competition. 

The stop-start-equipped engine range is very much in keeping with the current downsizing trend. There’s just one petrol, an all-new 2.0-litre direct injection unit which develops 174bhp and emits 156g/km of CO2. However, the big sellers will be its 1.7-litre diesels. Two versions will be offered at first. Both are single turbo units, with 114bhp and 134bhp respectively, while a twin-turbo flagship arrives in 2012.

On the inside, Hyundai promises an upmarket interior made using high quality materials. Auto Express has seen it, and can confirmed that the swooping dash design is much like that of the Vauxhall Insignia, and features a wealth of soft-touch plastics and plenty of storage space.

Tech highlights include adaptive headlights and a self-parking system. Hyundai is yet to confirm prices or trim levels, but it will be specced competitively and will include the firm’s impressive five-year, unlimited mileage warranty.

For an alternative review of the latest Hyundai i40 visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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7 Comments

detailing

Wow - a far Eastern car with thought-through details for once - that looks quite nice. Avoids the usual korean/ japanese pitfalls of nasty minicab doorframes and blobby front/ rear light clusters. Front grille looks fairly convincing as a future trademark too. Does Peter Schreyer do hyundai styling as well as kias?

By Flacked on 13 December, 2010, 8:53pm

Derivate much?

Hyundai never disappoints: Fordish front end, Mercedes R350/500 flanks and a Subura rear. The spirit of Dr. Frankenstein lives on!

By mariospants on 14 December, 2010, 6:51am

It may not be original

but if the design looks this good in the flesh - and given AE's track record, that's a big if - Hyundai may just have produced their first desirable large car.
With the bulletproof warranty and, hopefully, a competitive price, I'm sure that many prospective Passat, Avensis and Mondeo owners will give this a serious look.

By snappyuk on 14 December, 2010, 8:08am

Sonata

Where does this fit in with the newly launched Sonata?

By danielbez on 14 December, 2010, 8:55am

Missed the boat...

The head of the design team for the new Ford Mondeo is probably wishing he/she had thought of this...

By sgtgrash on 14 December, 2010, 3:55pm

I see many Mondeo overtones here, no bad thing. We kept saying for years that the Koreans are coming, well, their latest crop confirms they have arrived and they are doing really well.

By ganthopoulos on 14 December, 2010, 9:51pm

I40 Coming

Whils on vacation in New Zealand I drove the I45 . ( I understand the badge for the same car as the I40 in the UK). Great drive, comfortable. Great details. I cannot wait for the saloon/hatchback to arrive in theUK

By Bobfox on 15 February, 2011, 7:55pm

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Pictures

Hyundai i40 estate front
Hyundai i40 estate rear side
Hyundai i40 estate front side
Hyundai i40 estate rear side
Hyundai i40 estate front side

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