It's a good thing that we get a close eye on Hyundai's overseas video channels because sometimes they launch really crazy stuff like this. So as you all know, the i40 midsize sedan and wagon just received a mid-life facelift and tech upgrade and the next clip show that happening in a very futuristic way.
You know how Optimus Prime gets rockets, guns and a jetpack from another Transformer who dies? This is a bit like that, since the i40 is engulfed in a weird spaceship that changes its every panel and lightbulb.
Of course, using robots to make cars look advanced and futuristic is nothing new. Citroen famously did it with its old C4 hatch that transformed into a gigantic dancing machine and a few other companies have tried it as well. But the graphic and the sound effects in this video seem like they were pulled straight from a Michael Bay movie.
So what's the deal with "The New i40 Diesel"?
A facelift has completely changed the front end design of this Korean car, which gains a hexagonal grille, new projector headlights and sharper lines. The engines now comply with the Euro 6 regulations and use a 1.7L diesel block to deliver either 115 hp (85 kW) and 280 Nm (206 lb-ft), or 141 hp (104 kW) and 340 Nm (251 lb-ft).
Part of the reason why this is a more efficient car is that Hyundai has installed its first 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. There's also a new feature called Advanced Traction Cornering Control (ATCC), which brakes the inside wheel to increase traction in the corners.
Is it an improvement? Yes, but not enough to justify showing a freakin' spaceship that land on top of a car and changes it.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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