Hyundai i40 Blue Drive to Debut at Geneva Motor Show

Hyundai will launch its i40 D-segment model at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The model, which was known by the codename 'VF' during development, will compete against rival vehicles like the Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat. The Korean company will debut its new Blue Drive eco-program, and a powertrain line-up which boasts best-in-class performance and fuel economy, and very low CO2 emissions.

"We have bold ambitions for Hyundai in Europe, and the new i40 will provide the momentum we need to achieve our goals in 2011 and beyond. We expect the quality of the new i40 to continue the development of our image in Europe and attract new customers to the Hyundai brand," commented Allan Rushforth, Vice President of Hyundai Motor Europe, in a recent press release released by the company.

The i40 was designed and developed in Germany and bears a striking resemblance to its cousin, the Hyundai Sonata. It will be available in sedan and wagon body styles, and is expected to arrive on the European market shortly after its on-stage debut.

"The i40 perfectly combines the four elements that have become core Hyundai values: practicality, performance, efficiency, and styling. Our designers and engineers have produced a car that encapsulates what European motorists look for in a D-segment vehicle," Allan Rushforth also said, describing the vehicle’s mix of style and performance.

The engine range is expected to include a 2.0-liter, direct-injection four-cylinder producing 170 horsepower and a 1.7-liter turbodiesel with outputs ranging from 115 hp to 136 hp, with the Blue Drive technologies applied. More details on i40 will be available closer to its motor show world premiere in Geneva in March 2011.