Hyundai i40 sedan: first look

Hyundai used March's Geneva motor show to reveal its i40 mid-size wagon, and now the South Korean manufacturer is set to wheel out the sedan version at this week's Barcelona show.

The slick four-door is said to be the latest embodiment of Hyundai's so-called 'fluidic sculpture', but the accompanying rendering leads us to believe the designers have also derived inspiration from sister brand Kia's stylish Optima and Cadenza.

Be that as it may, we like what we see and it looks a distinctly sharper proposition than its larger i45 sibling, which launched in Australia last year.

The i40 was designed and engineered at Hyundai's European R&D headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany and, as such, it allegedly "boasts a purely European identity".

The car's flowing lines were first seen on the ix-onic concept car at the 2009 Geneva show, and the styling theme has since graced the likes of the ix35 and ix20.

"We have used very strong, fluid lines from front to rear to give i40 a distinctive appearance," said Hyundai's European design boss Thomas Bürkle.

"We wanted to move away from the typical three-box saloon and create a car that was in keeping with the sporty nature of the i40 estate. By sculpting a low, elongated roof line, we've given the i40 saloon a striking coupe-like silhouette," he added.

Despite its low roofline, the i40 sedan is said to offer "high levels of interior comfort" and Hyundai boasts of best-in-class dimensions for front head- (1025mm), shoulder- (1455mm), and legroom (1170mm). Its wheelbase stretches about 2770mm (versus 2795mm for the i45)

"While the exterior of i40 saloon stands out for its fluidic form and distinctive appearance, the interior has been shaped to deliver practicality and comfort to the driver and passengers in a high-quality package," said Bürkle.

Hyundai Europe senior VP Allan Rushforth added: "The launch of the saloon represents the next step of the i40's introduction to the European market, following the very positive reception for the i40 estate.

"The i40 saloon shares the same qualities found in the estate, including a dynamic design element, and broadens the appeal of the i40 to buyers in the D-segment.

"The saloon market in Spain is very strong, claiming almost 40 per cent of the D-Segment, so the Barcelona motor show was the logical choice for a reveal of such importance."

Hyundai Motor Company Australia marketing director Oliver Mann confirmed the i40 wagon shown at Geneva has been confirmed for our market and will launch in late 2011, but he suggests the business case for the sedan is still being reviewed.

"We are hoping to make a decision later in the year," Mann told the Carsales Network.

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