Marton Pettendy•14 Feb 2013
NEWS
Hyundai locks in i30 coupe
Sleek new Hyundai i30 three-door to join Euro-sourced wagon from mid-yearHyundai is preparing to launch a svelte new three-door ‘coupe’ version of its latest i30 hatchback in Australia by mid-year.
Motoring.com.au understands Hyundai will release just one 98kW1.6-litre GDI petrol version in about four months, fitted with either six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.
At this stage it’s unclear where the coupe will be positioned within the new i30 range, which arrived here in five-door form last June, but the three-door will follow in the footsteps of the i30 Tourer – which will be officially released this Friday – in being European-sourced.
All five-door i30 hatchbacks sold in Australia are produced in South Korea, but Europe’s higher labour costs and the longer shipping distance could see the i30 coupe priced higher than the i30 hatch, which opens at under $21,000 but is available only with a larger 1.8-litre petrol engine and a 1.6-litre diesel.
That said, Hyundai announced a lower than expected $22,990 starting price for the i30 Tourer last November, undercutting its rivals and the i30cw it replaces – despite its European origins.
Given the i30 three-door hails from the same European factory and is powered by the same direct-injection 1.6-litre Gamma petrol engine, we’re tipping it will be priced somewhere between the light-size Accent 1.6 hatch/sedan (from $16,990) and the base i30 1.8 five-door 1.8 ($20,990), marking a new sub-$20,000 entry price for the i30 line-up.
Like all i30s, the coupe will come standard with seven airbags – including twin front, front-side, side curtain and driver’s knee bags – plus electronic stability/traction control, anti-lock brakes, air-conditioning, power windows/mirrors, remote central locking and 16-inch alloy wheels.
While a sunroof and foglights could be offered either as options or standard in an up-spec Active variant, other standard equipment should include Bluetooth connectivity, USB and AUX connections, steering wheel audio and phone controls and LED daytime running lights.
Unique design elements include a different front bumper with lower spoiler, a revised mesh grille, new front and rear foglights and LED tail-lights.
Launched in the UK on January 24, the three-door i30 rides on the same 2650mm wheelbase and measures the same 4300mm long, 1780mm wide and 1470mm high as the five-door, making it 185mm longer than the Accent hatch.
Passenger and cargo space dimensions are also identical to those of the i30 five-door, meaning five seats and a 378-litre boot that extends to 1316 litres with the rear seats folded.
The i30 three-door is available with four trim levels and four engines in the UK, including the same 1.6 CRDi diesel that was recently discontinued from Hyundai Australia’s smaller Accent.
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Written byMarton Pettendy
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalists
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