Hyundai has released bit more official detail and background about its upcoming i40 estate and sedan.
The new D-segment Hyundai i40 was designed specifically for Europe and these official pictures show the estate version that will make its world premier at the Geneva Motor Show in March next year. A sedan version will follow later that year.
Hyundai has bold ambitions for this vehicle, claiming that its aim is to “shift European consumer perception of Hyundai to a more aspirational position,” which the car's dynamic design, class-leading quality, performance and technical features will apparently do.
The i40 was designed at Hyundai's European R&D facilities in Rüsselsheim, Germany, and its styling represents the latest evolution of Hyundai's 'fluidic sculpture' design language.
Up front it features Hyundai's signature hexagonal grille, while the rakish lines in the side profile are meant to convince the world that Hyundai really can be sporty and dynamic.
Although the company hasn't yet divulged much technical detail, it has revealed that the i40 packs the latest environmental technologies developed under the company's Blue Drive eco-program, and an engine line-up that boasts best-in-class performance and fuel economy, along with very low CO2 emissions.
Allan Rushforth, VP of Hyundai Motor Europe said: “The i40 perfectly combines the four elements that have become core Hyundai values: practicality, performance, efficiency, and styling. Our designers and engineers have produced a car that encapsulates what European motorists look for in a D-segment vehicle.”
The i40 will also benefit from a truly industry-leading warranty, which covers the car for five years regardless of the mileage - imagine something like that in SA?
It is not yet clear whether the i40 will make it to South Africa. While the Sonata does cover the lower end of the D-segment here, the i40 sedan and estate could certainly complement it as a more upmarket alternative.