Hyundai at Paris Motor Show

Hyundai i20

SEOUL : September 25, 2008 - Six new Hyundai models will make their international debut at this year's Paris "Mondial de l'automobile", including the new five-door i20, the i20 blue and the Santa Fe blue Hybrid. Multimedia material available includes still images of the models and product info documents.


i20

Hyundai i20

Introduction
With its fresh and head-turning styling, versatile interior, class-leading safety and engaging driver dynamics, the sparkling new i20 takes centre stage.

Designed and developed in Europe to meet the high expectations of European drivers, and benefiting from Hyundai’s unlimited mileage five-year warranty, the i20 arrives fully armed to succeed in Europe’s ultra-competitive supermini sector. Initially available as a five-door model, a sportier three-door i20 version will debut in January 2009.

Interior
Lower, longer and wider than the Getz it replaces, the five-door i20 rides on an extended 2,525mm wheelbase, enhancing its spacious interior architecture.

Luxury and versatility blend seamlessly in the new i20’s spacious and generously appointed cabin. With all four trim levels – Classic, Comfort, Style and Premium – featuring climate control, a powerful four-speaker radio, CD and MP3 audio system with integrated data display screen, a multi-function steering wheel, tyre pressure monitoring system, height-adjustable driver seat, keyless entry and electrically operated windows and side mirrors, i20’s list of standard features puts it head and shoulders above the majority of its rivals.

The i20’s five-seater interior majors on everyday practicalities, with a 40:60 split flat-folding rear bench with a low lip for easy loading into the 295-litre rear loadbay. The i20 offers numerous intelligently positioned interior storage spaces including a large cooled passenger glovebox and two cupholders.

Hyundai i20

Suspension, Ride Quality and NVH
In keeping with its dynamic styling, i20 rides on an all-new platform with front MacPherson strut and rear torsion beam suspension to deliver the taut and alert ride quality favoured by the European market.

The new rack and pinion steering setup has also been tuned to deliver quick and accurate responses resulting in excellent urban agility. Extensive use of advanced
noise reduction materials throughout the development process – particularly in the diesel-powered models – has resulted in exceptionally high levels of refinement.

Powertrain
Hyundai’s new i20 debuts with a range of seven petrol and diesel engines that have been extensively revised to deliver greater performance, enhanced economy and lower emissions than before.

The Euro IV-compliant petrol line-up comprises of the 78PS 1.2, 100PS 1.4 and 126PS 1.6 all available with five-speed manual transmissions, with the option of four-speed automatic gearboxes on the 1.4 and 1.6 models. Posting a low CO2rating of just 124g/km and returning just 5.2 L/100km on the combined cycle, the all-new 1.2 all-alloy engine delivers an excellent combination of performance and economy.

Geared up to meet the high European demand for diesel power, i20 arrives with four Euro IV-compliant turbo diesel powerplants, fitted with DPFCPF diesel particulate traps as standard for 1.6 diesel engine. The 1.4 comes in two specifications – 75PS and 90PS – while the flagship 1.6 is available in 115PS and 128PS trim. Economical and clean, the 115PS variant returns a class-leading CO2figure of 115g/km and 4.3l/100km on the combined cycle. Both 1.4 models come with five-speed manual transmissions, while the flagship 1.6 is mated to a six-gear manual drivetrain.

Safety
The i20’s outright agility and responsiveness play a key role in keeping the car out of harm’s way, but should the worst occur those on board are protected by the extensive use of high-tensile steel in the Hyundai’s robust chassis, six airbags – front, side and curtain – fitted as standard, active headrests, front seatbelt pretensioners and latest generation anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution.

This safety package is further enhanced by an advanced tyre pressure monitoring system, Isofix mounting points in the rear and seatbelt reminders for all five occupants. Hyundai is confident of a full five-star Euro NCAP adult occupant protection and child protection crash test result for the i20.

i20 blue

Hyundai i20 Blue

Based on the all-new i20 B-segment car, the i20 blue, a ‘blue’ variant incorporating a number of modifications, enhances the standard car’s already-impressive environmental credentials.

The ‘blue’ package involves revisions to the i20’s powertrain efficiency, aerodynamics and chassis, to deliver a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions and fuel consumption, without compromising performance, reliability and driver satisfaction.

While the regular i20 achieves notably low fuel consumption and CO₂ figures, the i20 blue offers a reduction of 15 percent in CO₂ emissions to just 99g/km and an improvement of 15 percent in fuel efficiency, consuming just 3,75 litres/100km.

Hyundai i20 Blue

The i20 blue runs the extremely efficient 1.4 CRDi diesel engine, which produces 90PS and generates 220 Nm of torque. The powertarin is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox – instead of the car’s usual five-speed unit – in which the ratios have been modified in 3rd, 4th and 5th gear. Performance is very respectable in the i20 blue, with a top speed of 176km/h and a 0-100km/h time of around 13 seconds.

The engine’s electronic software, which manages timing, injection pressure and idle speed, has been optimized to deliver low emissions and high efficiency. Engine performance is enhanced by minimizing driveline friction and utilizing high-performance, low-friction engine oil.

The most noticeable change from the driver’s perspective is the application of a Hyundai-specific ISG Start-Stop system. A Bosch product, customized for the i20 blue, this innovation cuts the engine when the car is stationary and the gearbox is disengaged, and restarts the engine when the clutch pedal is depressed. This activity is particularly effective at minimizing emissions in slow-moving, urban traffic.

Advances in aerodynamic drag reduction contribute to the vehicle’s remarkably low emissions and fuel consumption statistics. Ground clearance has been reduced by 15 millimetres, while full-length underfloor covers further enhance aerodynamic efficiency. The application of Michelin Energy low rolling resistance tires and the subtle changes made to the design of the grille and bodywork also help improve performance.

Hyundai Santa Fe blue Hybrid

Hyundai SantaFe Blue Hybrid

The Santa Fe blue Hybrid maintains the overall design and dynamics of the standard Santa Fe, but is altogether a different car under the hood. Hyundai engineers developed a proprietary parallel hybrid drive system which mates the powerful but thrifty 2.4-litre Theta engine to a six-speed automatic transmission and a 41PS electric motor for maximum fuel economy and substantially reduced CO₂ emissions. This proprietary parallel hybrid drive architecture will serve as the foundation for all future hybrid drive vehicles to be developed by Hyundai.

Advanced hybrid technology
Developed at the Namyang R&D Centre in Korea, the petrol-electric hybrid technology featured in the Santa Fe blue Hybrid reduces CO₂ emissions to just 148 g/km (combined cycle) and delivers a fuel consumption figure of 6.2l/100km (combined cycle). With an estimated top speed of 170 km/h, performance has barely been compromised.

To maximize fuel economy, all of the Theta's major driveline and cooling system components have been optimized to reduce friction, while the crankcase has been filled with low friction oil. Engine control software automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a halt, cutting emissions to zero. When pressure is reapplied to the accelerator pedal, the Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) automatically restarts the engine. The Theta's engine control software governing injection pressure, engine cycle timing and exhaust retreatment rates has been revised to further reduce fuel consumption.

In addition, the latest electric motor-assisted steering system reduces power drain, and very low resistance tyres further optimize fuel economy.

Electric propulsion for the Santa Fe blue Petrol-Electric Hybrid is provided by a 41PS electric motor (205Nm), which is coupled directly to the six-speed automatic transmission. The top three gear ratios have been extended to ensure lower engine revolutions per minute (RPM) and further enhance fuel economy. Electrical power is stored in a 270V Lithium Polymer rechargeable battery (5.3Ah/270V) which has significant advantages over Lithium-Ion batteries, including higher energy density and lower manufacturing costs. Li-Poly is also more resistant to physical damage and can also take more charge-discharge cycles before storage capacity begins to degrade.

Hyundai SantaFe Blue Hybrid

A proven track record in low-emissions vehicles
Hyundai developed its very first hybrid electric vehicle in 1995 when it unveiled the Future Green Vehicle at the Seoul Motor Show. In 1999 it displayed an Elantra Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) at the Seoul Motor Show and, in 2000, an Accent HEV - both of which featured 'hard-type' parallel electric drive systems and ISG technology. However, these research development vehicles did not go into mass production.

In 2004, the company moved its HEV program into low-volume test production, delivering 50 examples of a gas-electric hybrid Getz (B-segment vehicles badged as Hyundai Click
in the Korean domestic market) to Korean government agencies as part of a fleet demonstration project. These were 'mild-type' hybrid systems using 16PS motors and nickel metal hydride batteries. The hybrid technology development program continued to expand and, in 2005, Hyundai and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. delivered 350 more units to the demonstration fleet, 730 more units in 2006 and 1,682 more units in 2007, including Accent HEVs.

Hyundai plans to start retail sales of its first hybrid-electric vehicle in July 2009. To be sold initially in the Korean domestic market under the Avante badge, the Elantra LPI Hybrid will be the world's first electric hybrid vehicle to be powered by liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and the first to adopt advanced Li-Poly batteries.

[Source : HYUNDAI]