As Hyundai’s good-looking i40 sedan debuts at Spain’s Barcelona Motor Show, officially Hyundai Australia still has not decided the model’s fate for local buyers.
This is despite confirmation the i40 wagon will be in Australian showrooms late this year.
There’s no doubt the Hyundai i40 sedan is a looker. Another ‘fluidic’ design from the company’s Russelsheim, Germany styling studios, the Hyundai i40 sedan shows-off a low, long roof and coupe-like silhouette for an up-market package clearly targeted for European tastes.
Two petrol and two diesel engines are offered in Europe, including Hyundai’s new direct-injection, 2.0-litre petrol powerplant claimed to deliver zero to 100km/h in 9.7 seconds and combined cycle fuel consumption of 6.8l/100kms. Hyundai’s ‘Blue Drive’ technology is included with some diesel models – this brings low rolling resistance tyres, auto start/stop and alternator management to lower fuel consumption to 4.3l/100kms.
Plenty of technology too with hill start assist, stability control, parking assistance, lane-keeping assistance, ventilated front seats, a reversing camera and up to nine airbags all on the list.
Nothing official from Hyundai Australia as yet but we would be very surprised if the i40 sedan did not star at the Australian International Motor Show (Melbourne) in July and launch locally at the same time as its wagon sibling.
