All-new Hyundai i30

Specifically designed and developed for Europe, with the i30 Korea’s leading car maker has produced a stylish model that will blend seamlessly into the UK’s C segment and a car that is capable of competing with the very best in its class.

Thanks to exacting engineering standards and superb build quality, matched with a well thought out Euro-specific design and exceptional levels of equipment and finish, i30 is all set to take the fight to the fully established European marques, like Ford’s Focus, Renault’s Mégane, Citroën’s C4, Mazda’s 3 and Peugeot’s 307.

Hyundai’s highly acclaimed and multi-award-winning Santa Fe has already proven Hyundai can build a car capable of beating the best that Europe can offer in the SUV segment.

In terms of packaging, quality, driving dynamics, safety, style and image, i30 now takes Hyundai to a new level in the family car category and is capable of equalling or bettering anything in its class in Europe.

In a first for Hyundai on its passenger cars, ESP, a safety system which, combined with electronic traction control, balances power and braking to help the driver maintain control over the direction of the vehicle at all times, is fitted as standard to all models in the i30 range.

The system assists the driver in the event that he or she is forced to swerve the vehicle, to avoid a collision for example, or if traction is lost when cornering. ESP helps to keep the vehicle headed in the intended direction where it might otherwise unavoidably slide, or worse, spin out of control, often ending up facing in the opposite direction.

Other key safety features across the range include active front head restraints to reduce the risk of whiplash injury, passenger, driver and full length curtain airbags, passenger airbag deactivation switch, front and rear seatbelt reminder system, seatbelt pretensioners and ISOfix childseat fixing points in the rear.

Added range-wide comfort and equipment features include, front fog lights, remote-locking folding key, glovebox cooling, electrically heated door mirrors and a trip computer.

As a continuing demonstration of its faith in the durability and build quality of its products, the i30, like every new Hyundai sold in the UK, comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty and 10-year anti perforation warranty and, should the worst ever happen, a three-year RAC roadside assistance package, all included as standard.

As well as being the model to introduce a whole new way of naming Hyundai models, i30 introduces a new, cleaner look where badging is concerned. Trim levels, of which there will be three in the UK, will not be depicted anywhere on the car, while diesel models will be identifiable only by a ‘CRDi’ (the name of Hyundai diesel engines) badge on the sides beneath the indicator repeater lights.

Pricing
Prices will start from only £10,995 for the highly equipped 1.4 litre petrol Comfort model and rise to £16,595 for the 2.0 CRDi Premium 6-speed manual, with groundbreaking specification on every model.

Tony Whitehorn, Managing Director Hyundai Motor UK Ltd: “The i30 is a car that is set to change the face of Hyundai in Europe. It is not only the most important car Hyundai has ever launched in the UK, it heralds a dramatic shift in image and attitude that will drive change in people’s perception of the whole Hyundai brand.

“A key contributor to this shift will be the sheer quality and equipment levels of the i30, matched with incredible affordability. Just as importantly, however, it will come from the new, Europe-wide alpha-numeric naming strategy.

“By moving to an alpha numeric naming system, it will be much easier for customers to understand the breadth and depth of Hyundai’s enviable model range. The names will come into being with each new model launched from i30 forward.

“Similarly to other alpha-numerically named line-ups, it should become obvious that with a range of cars from i10 to i70 (and more perhaps, in time) – with special suffixes for estates, SUVs and sports coupe models – it will be easy to identify that Hyundai has a progressive range of cars. A range that will see a driver through from tearing up their ‘L’ plates to the day they finally hang up their car keys for good.”

The ‘i’ name explained
Hyundai chose an alpha-numerical code that could establish a link between technology and the Hyundai brand’s core values. With the ‘i’, Hyundai chose the letter that could carry both messages. The letter ‘i’ has a long tradition as an icon for technology products. Furthermore, as a frequently used icon, the ‘i’ is already established across Europe.

In addition, the ‘i’ is also part of Hyundai’s brand promise. In the 1990s, Hyundai changed its entire corporate focus, moving away from its original business philosophy of producing ‘good-bargain’ vehicles, to acquire a more sophisticated profile. Hyundai wanted to become more inspiring. Today, the desire to ‘inspire’ forms one of the cornerstones of the Hyundai brand. The letter ‘i’ recognises this fact and brings it direct to consumers.

The i30 is the first Hyundai to carry the ‘i’ in its name. The number 30 is the numerical equivalent of the letter assigned to the i30’s segment, the European C segment.

i + numerical equivalent of segment letter:

i10 = A segment
i20 = B segment
i30 = C segment
i40 = D segment
i50 = E segment

For future derivatives or special segment models, a suffix will be added. For example, i30 CW for the soon to arrive i30-based C segment cross-wagon / estate.

Starting with i30, the new nomenclature will be applied to future vehicles that are sold in Europe. It will not immediately replace the names of current models.