Hyundai Iload News

Right now, new-car sales are booming, buyers have to wait months and even years for specific model or grade choices in some instances, and nobody is really wheeling and dealing like they used to pre-pandemic.

After nine months of trading, Australia's new car sales shows no signs of lifting by the end of the year.Overall, the market has dropped 7.9 per cent to 8111,464 to the end of September, with Toyota (154,515, -6.3%) once again the dominant player in the A

Hyundai Australia has introduced its facelifted iLoad van and iMax people-mover ranges, which are highlighted by a restyled front end and increased equipment levels.

It’s official: Australians now buy more SUVs than passenger cars, or at least they did in February.

Citroen Automobiles Australia has confirmed its light-commercial vehicle range will expand mid-year with the anticipated arrival of the next-generation Dispatch mid-size van.

Three extra seats have invaded the Renault Trafic load area but the Crew cargo area still measures four cubic meters.

As June 30 approaches, things get frantic in the new-car sales business. Brands and dealers feel the pressure and deals come thick and fast — some are better than others.Some car "brokers" make ridiculous claims about saving up to 25 per cent on a new-car price. Best be sceptical as there just has to be a catch — old build plates, unpopular model or colour, old stock etc. Best to deal with the makers direct, as the deals are sharp enough.Market leader Toyota has drive-away pricing on some popular models. The Corolla Ascent manual starts at $20,990, saving about $2500 on full freight. The auto is $2000 more.The Yaris Ascent auto starts at $17,990 drive-away, while the Camry is at a lossmaking $26,990 including prestige paint that usually adds about $500.Toyota is adding extras for no cost on some HiLux variants, for example the tow and stow pack worth $1300.Mazda is taking the drive-away pricing route on some models, starting with the Mazda2 at $16,990 drive-away for the manual. But it also promotes unspecified end of financial year "bonuses" on others. The Mazda6 gains a safety pack at no extra cost.Nissan finance is doing 1 per cent interest on its more popular models and there is drive-away pricing on less favoured badges. The Micra, soon to depart Australia, is the best buying at $12,990 drive-away for the manual, about $2700 off.Mitsubishi is doing free auto upgrades on several models.Hyundai has a mix of incentives. These include drive-away pricing on Accent Active manual hatch at $14,990 — about $3500 off (and just $1000 for an auto). It still has the i30 Active auto at $19,990, roughly $7000 off.There is five years' free servicing on some Hyundais and, on others, free third-party, registration and stamp duty (but not dealer delivery). ABN holders get a $1500 factory bonus on iLoad.Kia's run-out Cerato is $19,990 drive-away, plus free auto plus a $1000 gift card — making it the cheapest small car with auto in Australia. It's about $6000 off full price.In addition, all Kias have an unbeatable seven year/unlimited kilometre warranty.Holden's Step Up Sale has range of incentives, among them drive-away pricing, free auto and three years' free servicing.Holden is doing three years' free servicing on its SUVs, free auto and three years free servicing on the Colorado and Ute and free auto on Commodore. The Spark LS manual at $14,990 drive-away is just $1000 above its RRP.Ford's range is variously boosted by drive-away pricing, cash bonuses of $500, $1000 or $2000 dependent on the model, tech packs on some of the commercial vehicles (Ranger) and auto on some cars.Drive-away pricing is a given or should be at this time of year. If you can't get it, shop other brands.

The Hyundai iLoad van and iMax eight-seat shuttle get more fuel-efficient diesel engines and a new six-speed manual transmission.Petrol model prices remain unchanged, starting at $29,990 for the iLoad and $37,290 for the iMax. The diesels start at $34,990 for the iLoad and $39,990 for the iMax.The new engines are 2.5-litre CRDi turbo diesels with either a wastegate turbo or a variable geometry turbo mated to a new six-speed manual transmission.In iLoad configuration this delivers 8.0 L/100km, a 6 per cent reduction in fuel consumption; while the uprated 2.5-litre CRDi turbo diesel engine and five-speed automatic transmission combination achieve 8.8L/100km, an 8 per cent improvement. The iMax minibus uses a tad more.In the manual, the diesel engine's peak torque now starts earlier in the rev range from 1500 rpm through to 2500 rpm. Peak power is either 100kW (wastegate) or 125kW for the variable geometry turbo engine on automatic models. This unit generates some 441Nm of torque.Hyundai design and manufacture their own transmissions in-house.The new six-speed manual gearbox utilises multi-cone synchronisers for improved shift quality, and includes a button-operated reverse gear lock-out to provide further ease of operation. The short stroke of the transmission ensures a quick and accurate shift action to further enhance the economy of the driveline.The iLoad can handle up to two pallets with ease within its 4.3 cubic metre capacity, while offering seating for three or up to six in crew van configuration. For moving people plus their lifestyle accessories and luggage, iMax is a class leader. With flexible eight-seat capacity, plus plenty of stowage space behind the third row and a well thought out, comfortable and well-appointed interior including dual-zone air conditioning, to ensure occupants travel in space and comfort. 

South Korea's hard working machine picked off the HiAce for the first time, ending the year with 6610 sales, 576 ahead of the Toyota. While Hyundai's hauler performed well, other commercial vehicles struggled, with sales of most utes, vans and trucks slipping in 2011.  Reflecting economic insecurity hitting Australian businesses, VFACTS figures show the demand for workhorses stalled and, in some cases, went backwards last year.  Only 4x4 utes and medium duty trucks recorded growth in the 2011 calendar year and even those gains were mild.  Van sales suffered in 2011, dipping 8.6 per cent. Utes put in a mixed performance, with 4x2 utes finishing 11.6 per cent down for the year while 4x4 utes finished 6.3 per cent up.  The Falcon and Commodore-based utes lost more sales during the year, with the Ford shedding 25.1 per cent of its sales, while the Holden ute  lost 16.8 per cent.  Ford sold a monthly average of just 560 utes to Holden's 790, with both  hitting historical lows. Totoya's Hilux was the best selling 4x2 ute with 12,399 which was 17.9 per cent down on 2010. The Hilux also took out the 4x4 class with 23,725 sales for the year, but the Nissan Navara wasn't far off with 20,162 sales.  The light duty truck class (3500kg to 7500kg) was down 5 per cent for 2011. Isuzu dominated the segment with its N Series rig and its 3320 sales.  The medium duty class, rigs that rate between 7500kg and 10,000kg, actually grew in 2011, even if it did so by just 6.6 per cent. Isuzu wiped the floor in this division with combined N Series and F Series sales of 2509, well ahead of Hino with 1508 sales of 300 and 500  Series models. The heavy duty segment was down 2 per cent for the year, with Kenworth a  clear leader with 1766 sales, which represented a 15 per cent decline on 2010.

Ford Australia has announced it will add the ECOnetic Transit van to its local stable, making it the second model to run under the ECOnetic sub-brand following the arrival of a Fiesta version last October. Like the micro Fiesta, the ECOnetic van runs on diesel.  It has an official average fuel consumption figure of just 7.2 litres for every 100km and produces just 189 g/km of CO2 emissions. Ford says this places it `at the forefront' of the full-size van market in terms of fuel consumption and in the lead when it comes to CO2 missions.  It is a narrow lead though. Peugeot's Expert large van is the only other van to match the Transit's 7.2L/100km fuel economy figure, but the French worker uses an extra 3 g/km of CO2 per 100km according to the official rating. The ECOnetic is considerably more efficient than the best selling vans including Hyundai's diesel iLoad which uses an average of 8.5L/100km and 225 g/km of CO2 and the Toyota HiAce that uses 8.6L/100km and 225 g/km.  The ECOnetic Transit is also considerably more efficient than the standard Transit, which uses 8.2L/100km of fuel and produces 216g/km. Like the regular Transit, the ECOnetic runs a 2.2-litre four-cylinder Duratorq TDCi turbo diesel linked up to a six-speed manual. It has been recalibrated with economy in mind, but still manages to produce the same amount of power and torque as the standard engine - 85kW at 3500revs and 300Nm from 1800 to 2000revs. Ford says the engine also uses a lower friction oil in a bid to use less fuel.  It is also speed-limited to 110km/h in order to stop the driver getting carried away and ramping up the fuel consumption.  Ford Australia spokesman, Justin Lacy, says it is unlikely the speed limiter will be a problem for drivers.  "There aren't too many Transits out there doing more than 110km/h," he says. "The limiter is a good idea because obviously the faster you are going, the more fuel you are using."  The ECOnetic Transit has a green shift indicator, which shows the driver when it is time to change gear for economical driving. It runs 16-inch wheels with more aerodynamic wheel covers and low rolling resistance tyres.  Available as a short wheelbase only, the ECOnetic Transit still has a cargo capacity of 6.55m3 and an 1172kg payload. It costs $35,490 plus on-road costs. Ford Australia marketing chief, Beth Donovan, says the ECOnetic Transit will make sense for companies considering the environment.  "We expect that the Transit ECOnetic will appeal to customers who prioritise low fuel costs while reducing their impact on the environment," Donovan says. "It is a true no compromise alternative for business owners as it has better fuel economy and lower emissions than the leading vans on offer today."