The impressive Hyundai i-Flow at Geneva - next year's Hyundai i40
Hyundai are showing the i-flow concept at Geneva which will turn in to the 2011 Hyundai i40 for the UK and Europe.
Last week we reported that Hyundai were taking the i-Flow concept to Geneva, a flowing, hybrid, D-Segment car that embodies the future aspirations of Hyundai. But it’s much more than that. It is, to all intents and purposes, the 2011 Hyundai i40 for the European market.
Remarkably, despite us reporting that the Hyundai i-Flow is actually next years’ Euro/UK i40, most reports coming out of Geneva this week are still churning out Hyundai’s line that the “…i-flow’s looks and technology point the way to a new D-segment family car.” Which they do, but specifically so.
The man from Hyundai told us that the Hyundai Sonata and Hyundai i45 recently launched in the US/Asia/Oz aren’t suitable for the European market, so won’t be sold here. Instead, the i-flow at Geneva – doubtless toned down a little – will be the Euro Hyundai i40. It’s the same under the skin as the Sonata but offers a much sexier body and interior, with some clever materials from BASF.
The i-Flow also sports a diesel hybrid, with a 1.7 litre turbo diesel Lithium Ion-Polymer battery and a six-speed, dual-clutch ‘box delivering 94mpg and CO2 emissions of 85g/km. It seems highly likely that next year’s Euro Hyundai i40 will come with this hybrid on offer as well as the usual assortment of diesel and petrol lumps.
Just to reiterate – so no one is in any doubt – the man from Hyundai told Cars UK last week:
“The Sonata (sold now in Korea and the US) is not the same as the car that will come to Europe. They do share a platform, but that’s all. The Sonata and i45 have been designed with those markets in mind. The i-flow car has been designed with European consumers in mind and will be with us this time next year.”
Which is pretty clear.
Myninsterine says
Brilliant stuff! Cheers to the i-flow team of South Korean major!
This is going to be a sensation.. will rock uk after its release.
JulianLee says
Hyundai should make its own luxury brand? like Lexus/Infiniti etc, just like the Japanese makers.
Techware7 says
I don’t have a Hyundai. but I think with all the new stuff they are pulling out and with pretty good reliability records shown for the past 5 years i’m thinking pretty hard on getting the new i40.
Maybe Hyundai will be the #1 car maker pretty soon? The i40looks pretty good compared anything in? its class.
Link05 says
Reminds me of the Shinari Concept with a bigger mouth and a Pontiac Solstice rear end.
Nonetheless, good looking.
Harold Swann says
Visited the Australian International car show in the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre on Tuesday 19/10/2010 and was really impressed by the Hyundai i45. It was the first car on view when entering the show. It was mounted on a slowly rotating round and angled platform which showed off all angles of the cars body styling to great effect.
It was surprising how many people commented that they thought at first glance that it was a Mercedes!!!
Closer inspection of a statically displayed model showed that the good looks of the exterior were carried over to the inside of the i45.Hope the iflow version for the UK & Europe is as good.
Whilst at the show we were given a test drive in the new Toyota Camry Petrol Hybrid which drove like a dream and was very impressive but not as good looking inside and out as the Hyundai i45.
It would have been great to have been able to take a test drive in the i45 Diesel Hybrid to see how it compares.