Hyundai I30 2009 News

Despite new entrants coming into the market, the preference for hybrid vehicles has fallen 74 per cent among private buyers this year, according to the latest VFACTS industry figures on fuel and buyer

Hyundai was the single brand in the top 10 to lift its result over the same month in 2008 as new-car sales slipped to their worst level since the start of the global economic downturn.April was a massive 23.9 per cent down on the same month last year, a result which also drags the year-to-date total back by 20.3 per cent and points towards a full-year showroom total in the 840,000 range.Some of the pain was eased by the usual sales dislocation over Easter, which gave an excuse for some under-performers, as well as the potential for the Federal government's investment allowance to lift results in the selling days before the end of the financial year."While the figures confirm that market conditions remain soft, the extent of the fall has been compounded by the timing of the Easter holidays," says FCAI chief executive, Andrew McKellar."After adjusting for seasonal factors, sales in April appear to be broadly consistent with results of recent months and we remain hopeful that conditions will soon stabilise."But Hyundai does not have to wait as it improved its result by a solid 12.3 per cent, improving from 3683 sales in April '08 to 4136 in April '09. The brand is also up more than 12 per cent for the first four months of the year, a huge contrast to market leader Toyota which dropped 37.5 per cent in April and is trailing its year-to-date effort in 2008 by 29.3 per cent.Hyundai's i30 managed a best-yet ranking of sixth for the month, a result which even trumped its traditional showroom favourite, the Getz, in ninth. The numbers are not huge, 1491 for i30 and 1307 for the Getz, but reflect a significant boost for the brand.So, why is Hyundai doing so well, taking fifth overall for the month?"There is no smart answer for us. We've got a good team that is working well for us," says Ben Hershman of Hyundai Australia."We've gone up over the last few months and we believe there are three factors. The first is new product ...  secondly people are coming to value brands ... the third is that the i30 has brought people to look at Hyundai for the first time. We're seeing new customers walk into dealerships who would never have been there before."We've also very aggressive in our campaigns."Hershman says Hyundai has also been helped by an improvement in the brand's secondhand values, even if it is only for the newer models which have arrived in the past three years. The Elantra alone has improved from a 47 per cent residual after three years to 57 per cent."At the top end of the car sales chart, Toyota continued its leadership and GM Holden held onto favourite car choice with the Commodore.But the two brands are split on their predictions, with Toyota forecasting a significant showroom improvement in coming months with Holden waiting for change."We expect a pick-up in sales for May and June, followed by a market that will be stronger in the second half of the year than in the first six months," Toyota's sales and marketing boss, Dave Buttner, says."I don't think anybody is beating their chest, it is and remains a tough market," replies GM Holden spokesman, Scott Whiffin.But, with the Commodore continuing as Australia's most popular car, Whiffin said the company is getting some encouragement after the pain of downsizing its manufacturing operation in Adelaide to a single rotating shift."We're encouraged to see Commodore sales off only four per cent in a market that's down 25 per cent. You're also seeing flight to value in the market."TOP 10 SELLERSApril 20091. Holden Commodore - 31772. Toyota HiLux - 26323. Mazda3 - 25034. Toyota Corolla - 23855. Ford Falcon - 22296. Hyundai i30 - 14917. Toyota Yaris - 13958. Nissan Navara - 13119. Hyundai Getz - 130710. Subaru Forester - 1239 

The South Korean brand will show off the i30 blue and i10 blue concepts.Both cars may look the same as a normal model but they deliver significant fuel economy savings and substantially reduced C02 emissions.The i-blue package comprises advances in drag reduction, an increase in the efficiency of the engine and transmission, as well as fine-tuning of the chassis.Visually they have aerodynamically optimised wheel housings and rear spoiler, low-rolling resistance tyres and each car is 15mm to 20mm lower than the standard production cars.A gear-shift indicator inside tells the driver when to change up the six-speed gearbox for better economy, while both cars use stop-start technology as well.Under the bonnet both the i30 and i10 use low-friction oil, an optimised cooling system and specific engine software controls that precisely monitor injection pressures and timing.In European specifications, the new 66kW 1.6-litre CRDi turbo diesel engine in the i30 emits an impressively low 125g/km of CO2.With the i-blue package, Hyundai has reduced this by 15.2 per cent, lowering the CO2 emissions to just 106g/km.This reduction is also reflected in greater fuel efficiency. The i10 blue performs a similar role in reducing fuel consumption and cutting down on the level of harmful emissions.Introduced in 2007, the i10 brought a new sophistication to the entry level of the Hyundai range in Europe.The highly economic 55kW 1.1-litre CRDi five-door already has a very low emission level of just 114g/km CO2.With the essential elements of the i-blue package, this can be reduced to just 95g/km, a meaningful 17 per cent reduction.The i30 and the i10 will be joined by the i30 CW — Hyundai-speak for station wagon — as well as the performance Genesis coupe. The 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show... 

It, and fellow Korean sister Kia, have improved their build quality in recent years. Now the engineering product is standing up among the more recognised car manufacturers.The i30 small car won our 2007 Carsguide car of the year and Hyundai has not stopped there.Its new premium Genesis saloon is winning best-car awards in North America and we can look forward to other new models soon to be launched in Australia.They include the Genesis Coupe, the i20 small car and the i30cw which is a roomier wagon version of the hatch on which it is based.The Genesis Coupe and the i30cw will be unveiled at the Melbourne Motor Show from the end of this month.The coupe will be offered with a two-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a 3.8-litre V6 tuned to a big 231kW, and this in a rear-wheel-drive sporty with stability control, traction control and keyless entry.The i30cw wagon is 320mm longer and 40mm taller than the i30 hatchback and on a slightly longer wheelbase. It aims to offer more room for rear seat passengers and luggage and so is a better proposition for small families.The i20 will be a small hatchback, on sale here in the third quarter of this year, boasting technology usually found in larger, more costly cars. It will be fuel efficient and, for its size, have a relatively long wheelbase.Hyundai has grown to be one of the world's biggest car makers and sits in the top 10 most popular makes in Australia.Vfacts figures from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries show last year it sold more than 45,000 new cars in Australia, putting it as eighth biggest-selling brand and ahead of Subaru and Volkswagen. 

Hyundai has introduced a bigger version of its award-winning i30 hatch, with a stretched Wagon version joining the Euro-styled ranks.The i30 cross-wagon, or CW, is 230mm longer and 85mm taller than the hatch, with a 50mm longer wheelbase.This allows a greater load-carrying capacity, with cargo volume up 75L to 415L, and offering an enormous 1395L with the back seats folded (an increase of 145L).Though the tapered roof of the wagon sacrifices shoulder room in the second row, headroom and legroom are up 22mm and 35mm respectively. Given the additional room and more frequent use of the rear seats, Hyundai displayed an Aussie-specced model with curtain airbags as standard, along with traction and stability control.Large 17-inch alloys wrapped in 225/45 rubber add to the i30’s European physique, and a six-speaker stereo with MP3, USB and iPod jacks controlled by wheel-mounted audio buttons jazz up the interior.Engine options are aligned with the hatch: a 1.6-litre CRDi turbodiesel and a 2.0-litre petrol four. Pricing will be announced early next year when the car launches here.The CW version of the excellent hatch should bolster the brand’s already strong small-car sales, with only the more expensive Astra Diesel and Peugeot Touring for company in the oiler wagon stakes.The carsguide Car of The Year is back on again.   Who do you think should win?  Put in your two cents now!  

Hyundai is entering the booming light commercial vehicle market and will debut its new iLoad vans at the Brisbane International Motor Show.

It has taken the top honour in carsguide's Car of the Year awards, proved its claims as a frugal performer in the production-class category of the Panasonic World Solar Challenge and is putting smiles on the faces of Hyundai's Australian bosses. But could I live with an i30 in the garage? And, more to the point, which model would I choose; petrol or diesel? Over two weeks, the top-spec, petrol-fuelled i30 SR and the lowest specification diesel (SX) were in my drive. The petrol SR, with its 17in alloy wheels, rear spoiler and side skirts, really looks the goods and is worth the $28,490 (with auto option) asking price. The two-litre in-line four-cylinder petrol power plant produces 105kW of power and 186Nm of torque. Power is put to the road through the front wheels and the optional four-speed automatic transmission. While looking the goods; along with the at-hand steering-wheel-mounted controls for the stereo and easy iPod connectivity; the engine has just enough puff to leave you wanting more for an entertaining, zippy drive. Where that zip is lacking with the petrol version, the 1.6-litre CRDi (diesel), from $21,490, makes amends. While the diesel sports 15in steel wheels only and is missing the rear spoiler and side skirts - toning down its looks; the engine is punchy and pushes this model along well for a fun drive. An additional $1790 will buy the Protectz safety pack, which brings the two models into line with a full complement of ESP and additional side and curtain airbags, and extra security. The SX diesel - the SLX model variant of which won the carsguide Car of the Year Award for Hyundai; also drives through a five-speed manual transmission until next year. The luxury of steering-wheel-mounted controls is missing. But here's an engine; which is capable of producing 85kW of power and a very impressive 255Nm of torque. The Euro styling that is so evident in this design does get it noticed; not bad for a sub-$22,000 vehicle. But it is at the fuel pump that you will find the biggest benefits of this Hyundai. The petrol engine has a claimed combined fuel cycle figure of 7.6 litres/100km for the auto transmission (7.2 litres/100km for manual) and the diesel uses fuel at a frugal 4.7 litres/100km (claimed). However, during the run from Darwin to Adelaide as part of the Solar Challenge, the little diesel sipped fuel at a rate of just 3.3 litres/100km. So, after a week in both models, under the same driving conditions around Adelaide, the time had come to make a choice; the flashy petrol or the base-model diesel. Based on looks alone, the SR petrol version took line honours, but the performance and economy gong went to the diesel. For the major title - the car I would have in my driveway if I had to make that choice; the prize has to go to the diesel Hyundai i30 SX. I'd dig a little bit deeper in the pocket to get the Protectz pack fitted; and possibly go to the SLX version; which gets 16in alloys and some additional interior kit to align the safety standards and features with the outstanding fuel consumption. Either way, Hyundai has hit a winner in the small-car segment with the i30. And there are sure to be some more broadening smiles on the faces of those bosses when they get the auto-transmission diesel models next year, introducing a whole new generation to diesel passenger cars.  

Essentially a five-door version of the Elantra, the stylish i30 hatch is the key to Hyundai Australia; realising a 2007 sales target of 50,000 new cars. It is priced from a particularly sharp $18,990. However, almost before it is in showrooms the company is conceding that supply is an issue. “We have worked very hard to get this car and have succeeded to the extent that we are the only market in the world outside Western Europe and Korea to have it available,” Hyundai Australia's chief executive Steve Yeo says. “However, we are only going to be able to get about 2500 cars before the end of the year.” Yeo says the supply constraints will not be solved in the short term as production capacity at the Korean plant is already at the limit. “There is a new plant being built in the Czech Republic that will increase production but it will not be operating until about 2009,” Yeo says. The i30 was styled in Germany and benchmarked against the best Euro small hatches, including Ford Focus, Opel Astra and VW Golf. In Australia it is expected to attract buyers shopping the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3. The car has been localised for Australia with bespoke damper settings, spring rates and steering tune after severe criticism of the original Elantra. The i30 will be available in three trim levels, with a 2.0-litre petrol (105kW and 186Nm) and a 1.6-litre commonrail diesel (85kW and 255Nm) available from launch. A five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic are offered on the petrol engine. The diesel comes with a five-speed manual and will add the automatic option around December. Pricing starts with the SX petrol manual starting at $18,990 with a $2000 premium for the automatic. The base diesel model is $21,490. The mid-range SLX manual is $23,490 in petrol and $25,990 for the diesel, while the range-topping SR comes in petrol only at $26,490 for the manual. Equipment levels in the cars are generally high with standard fare in the SX including ABS, dual front airbags, anti-whiplash front headrests, power windows and heated exterior mirrors, remote central locking and reach and rake-adjustable steering wheel. There is also a height-adjustable driver's seat, air conditioning with pollen filter, integrated iPod and USB connections, four-speaker stereo and 15-inch steel wheels. Neither the base nor the mid-range models offer standard stability control but it is available as part of a Protectz pack at $1790 for the SX (ESP, side and curtain airbags) or $990 for the SLX which already has the extra airbags. The SLX also has standard 16-inch alloys with wider 205/55 rubber, foglamps, steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls (on petrol models only), automatic climate control, trip computer, two additional speakers and leather-trimmed wheel and gear lever. The top of the range petrol-only SR offers ESP and traction control as standard, 17-inch bright-finished alloys with 225/45 rubber, body kit of side skirts and rear spoiler, premium radio with in-dash six-stacker CD and leather-trimmed seat bolsters. Cabin materials are of a good standard with soft-touch dash and door trims lifting the feel of the interior. Styling is excellent with a rich feel from the curved surfaces. Well-thought-out controls placement offers both comfort and functionality. And the i30 utilises the proven Euro-hatch formula of long wheelbase, wide wheel stance and short, high rear overhang, maximising interior depth. That keeps the overall car short for easy city use while maximising interior and boot depth. At 4245mm the i30 is 260mm shorter and 10mm narrower and lower than the Elantra sedan but retains the same 2650mm wheelbase. The long wheelbase and internal width, combined with clever interior packaging; there are no fewer than 20 storage compartments around the car; the cabin's  front and rear legroom and headroom is well above the class average.