Hyundai I45 2013 News

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued its latest round of recalls, with models from Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia and Volvo impacted by the recent safety notices.

The Korean brand is fast-tracking changes to the steering and front suspension of its good looking mid-sized newcomer to bring it up to the standard of Japanese rivals including the Mazda6, Honda Euro and Suzuki Kizashi. It has just completed a major back-to-back evaluation with its rivals and the outcome is an engineering update from Korea.  "We have asked for a change and it will be approved soon," says Edward Lee, managing director of Hyundai Australia. "The quick fix could be in three months. But the permanent fix, I'm not sure."  Carsguide helped trigger the changes, with Hyundai boss Edward Lee admitting feedback from journalists was crucial in evaluation of the i45. "HMC always listens to journalist opinion very carefully. We listen.  We try to improve.  After that criticism we are doing almost everything. We have to listen." Carsguide hit the car hard for its wonky front suspension and woeful steering response, which even Lee felt during the comparison drive.  "I am not an engineer... but I can tell the difference, a little bit. We what the difference is, but from the normal customer's point of view it is hard to differentiate." Lee says the comparative testing was crucial and the technical team in Australia has filed a detailed report to Korea.  "We discussed many times with our head office." He also admits Hyundai must establish a process to prevent such shortcomings hitting showrooms in future.  "We have an Australian engineering team and test drivers. But it's not enough. We will do something more. We need to invite Korean engineers here."

CEO Edward Lee says diesel isn't on their agenda, despite the fact that the Sonata the i45 replaces had a two-litre diesel engine.  "At the moment, we don't have that plan but we have some different ideas," he says. In the US, it will be available with LPG and as a petrol-electric hybrid.  "The hybrid is just for the US, but if the market is ready we will consider it." He rejected a stronger V6 engine for the i45, declaring that the 2.4-litre petrol Theta II engine "performs like a V6".  Product planning manager Roland Rivero says diesel does not represent a high proportion of their car sales or throughout the medium-car segment. "Looking at the sales split for petrol versus diesel in Mondeo and Mazda6 it it struggling to grow," he says.  "It's not huge in this segment.  But if the market demands it, we will investigate an alternative fuel, but it might not be diesel."

It's fussy, with plenty of chrome and some complicated panel creases that test the high build quality standard of the South Korean manufacturer.  However, Hyundai's North American design manager Andre Hudson, is proud that a lot of his out-there styling cues have carried through to the production vehicle.  "Our speed of development at Hyundai means the original idea stays very true and doesn't get watered down," he says. He points to two main features which made it from the drawing board to the showroom - the chrome strip down three-quarters of the side of the car and the C pillar "porthole" window.  "The chrome strip under the window sills goes all the way to the headlights across three separate panels. Getting them lined up is a testing process," he says. The C pillar window is one of his favourites.  "I'm so proud that the glass carried through to production despite the extra cost. It gives more sense of space." Hudson spent seven years with GM in Detroit and the UK before moving to Hyundai five years ago.  "That has given me a border approach to designing cars and understanding the European market," he says. Hyundai has studios in South Korea, southern California China, India, Germany and Japan.  "In the US this is considered a large car," he says. "I was 30 when I started on this project and designing a medium-sized family vehicle is not something you dream of doing at that age.  "However, I can now see it being a family car for me for the future." The car continues Hyundai's theme of 'fluidic sculpture'. "It's time to make an emotional connection with our customers and pull at people's hearts a little," he says, referring to the car's "natural organic quality" and "athletic and taut" lines. "There is a movement of line on this vehicle. It looks like it's in motion when it's standing still," he says.  He also describes the front grille as looking like a bird of prey. While the exterior was designed in the US, Hudson's studios collaborated with South Korea on the colours, introducing a metallic red to Hyundai's line-up for the first time and an adventurous "espresso brown" which looks almost black except in direct sunlight.