'YF' to be i45

The 'i'-s have it. Hyundai has gone with i45 as the name for its new 'YF'-model medium-segment car. Roughly Camry-sized, the new car will continue to be marketed as 'Sonata' in the US and South Korea, but the Aussie market will adopt the European nomenclature already introduced with i30, i-Load, i-Max and ix35 -- with i20 soon to follow. In previous reports, the Carsales Network proposed either 'i40' or 'i50', but Hyundai has split the difference for the new car, presumably reflecting its size, relative to the i30 model.

"We are very excited to be launching the all-new i45 mid-sized sedan in Australia in the coming months," said Oliver Mann, Hyundai Australia's Marketing Director.

"Already breaking records in South Korea and receiving awards in the US, i45 is going to make a considerable impact in the competitive Australian mid-sized segment."

The i45 is scheduled to arrive here in the second quarter, but it is already on sale in the US with a 2.4-litre direct-injection petrol four-cylinder driving through a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. According to Hyundai, it's considered to be best in class there for fuel efficiency. It's also expected to provide the base for a Camry Hybrid rival down the track.

Hyundai will promote the new car's 'fluidic sculpture' styling, but the i45's principal appeal will lie in its value, presumably offering buyers affordable pricing and plenty of kit.

In the US, where that market's Sonata (pictured) is built, the car is already achieving better-than-Accord resale values, according to one industry analyst quoted by Hyundai. Of course, the i45 has its work cut out for it in this country, where it's not necessarily seen as a volume-selling model in the Hyundai range.

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