Hyundai reveals I30 estate

Korean car giant Hyundai has revealed the next stage in its plans to fully establish itself as a European manufacturer, by issuing the first official pictures of its i30 Estate, the follow-on car from the soon to be launched all-new i30 5-door hatch.

The images come less than a week after work began on Hyundai’s new Czech-based European production facility. The new i30 family of C-segment cars will ultimately be produced at the plant.

UK Managing Director, Tony Whitehorn, said: “The C-Segment is the critical segment to be competitive in. It caters for all needs; families, singles, couples, and company car drivers, with a full mix of hatchback, sports, coupe, cabriolet, mini-mpv and even cross-over models. Hyundai realises that to compete, we must be in a position to offer a mix of such models to cater for a variety of customer needs.”

Like its 5-door hatchback sibling, the i30 Estate was styled at Hyundai’s European Design Centre in Russelsheim, Frankfurt, ensuring it is perfectly in tune with European tastes.

Thoughtful design touches include projection headlamps, a USB port for connecting portable music players, a smart folding key system for convenient access to the vehicle, a built-in roof rack for maximum cargo-carrying utility and repeater lamps built into the side view mirror housings.

Compared to the hatchback, the estate is longer by 230mm, taller by 50mm and has a longer wheelbase (up 90mm) significantly enhancing its load carrying capacity and practicality.

From launch, the Estate will be available with 1.6 litre 4-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.

Due to be shown for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the i30 Estate is expected to go on sale in the UK and wider Europe in early 2008. The 5-door hatch, meanwhile, will arrive in UK showrooms this summer.