Hyundai’s i40 saloon revealed in Barcelona

Hyundai has unveiled the saloon variant of its i40 large family car at the Barcelona Motor Show.

The car will go on UK sale towards the end of this year, joining the Tourer version which debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Hyundai is heavily emphasizing the car’s European credentials, saying that it has a purely European identity having been designed and engineered at the brand’s European R&D headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany.

The car will be offered with two diesel and two petrol engines with a power range between 113 and 175bhp. Diesel is expected  to take 65 per cent of all i40 sales.

The 1.7-litre diesel of 134bhp is expected to be the biggest seller. Best eco option will be the 113bhp diesel – combined with stop and go technology, low rolling-resistance tyres and an alternator management system it will offer 65.7mpg and emissions of 113g/km.

Hyundai will also launch a new Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) petrol engine of two litres. The 175bhp unit will boast a 9.7-second 0-62mph time, 41.4mpg fuel economy and emissions of 159g/km.

According to Hyundai Motor Europe’s Chief Operating Officer Allan Rushforth, the i40 is a very important car for the brand: “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.”

Rushforth adds that the launch of i40 will help the brand reach its target of a three per cent European market share by the end of 2011.

Words by: Andrew Charman