Hyundai is bililng the new i40 -- which we've seen sketches of -- as the "first D-segment vehicle to be developed specifically for the European market, with a package of powertrains, equipment and technology tailored for European tastes." Which almost certainly means that this will not be brought across the pond and sold as the Sonata Wagon here. Too bad, this looks sharp and could out-function the TSX wagon.
Hyundai announced one engine for the i40: a 1.7-litre turbo diesel with CO2 emissions of 113g/km, though there will certainly be a gasoline option -- the 175-horsepower direct-injected 1.6-liter motor shown in the Curb Concept perhaps?
The i40 wagon will go on sale this summer with a sedan version to follow soon after. We'll have more from Geneva in just a couple of weeks...
ed124c says:
08:58 AM, 02/17/11
So, if it isn't a Sonata, what is it? I thought the i40 was the Elantra Touring. Why can't this come here as the successor to the Touring? The current Touring is underpowered and gets far worse gas mileage than the new Elantra sedan. So, updating or a new model, is definitely required.
Great rearend, but the front is a bit weak. (Is it the same as the new Elantra?) I prefer the Sonata's face.
exnevadan says:
09:16 AM, 02/17/11
sharp car (a wagon fan)
much prefer the Elantra's styling to the Sonata's, it's cleaner and less busy/confused. might be the proportions, haven't figure out why I see it that way yet. the Elantra doesn't appear to nose dive when seen in person like it does in photos.
blueprint1 says:
09:19 AM, 02/17/11
Big hint for the NA market : the slushbox. They don't care for automatics in Europe, less than 10% of the market and they hurt resale. Is Europe a dream or what?
moparbad says:
09:47 AM, 02/17/11
re ed124c
i40 = Sonata i30 Estate = Elantra Touring
Would be awesome if diesel emissions regulations were equivalent in U.S. to those in Europe so we would have choice of diesel engines.
throwback says:
10:04 AM, 02/17/11
Not bad looking, although it reminds me of the Venza.
ed124c says:
10:12 AM, 02/17/11
@moparbad: I am not sure I understand. The current Elantra Touring has nothing in common with the previous US model Sonata. Is there a smaller Sonata somewhere else in the world that would account for a Sonata i30 Estate?
@blueprint1: Is that a clutch pedal in the photo? I don't know... the shift lever has some "stuff" just to the left of it-- that usually means an automatic.
altimadude05 says:
10:20 AM, 02/17/11
This reminds me how handsome the Mazda Protege 5 was. I think I want this.
1487 says:
10:27 AM, 02/17/11
rear looks like a Venza
bc1960 says:
10:33 AM, 02/17/11
I'm sure it will be less expensive than the TSX wagon, but I don't see how it will be more functional.
@ed124c: The i30 is based on the Kia cee'd platform. The i40 replaces the Sonata in Europe, but I haven't seen anything about the platform or dimensions yet--it looks more compact and the hard points appear to be arranged differently.
j2j says:
10:47 AM, 02/17/11
The i40 is a new model for the European market that will compete in the market against the European Accord, Ford Mondeo, etc. (the i40 sedan will follow the wagon).
Even tho the i40 is a bit smaller than the Sonata (i45), the wagon version may very well make it to the US as the Sonata Touring, much like how the wagon version of the i30 is sold here as the Elantra Tourong.
The i40 wagon gets a lot of its design cues from the HED-2 Genus concept (2006).
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/03/geneva_auto_show/image/hyundai-hed2genus4821.jpg
moparbad says:
12:01 PM, 02/17/11
When I typed the comment there was at least 10 spaces in between Sonata and i30 and when the comment was posted the spaces disappeared.
Contents of my earlier post make no sense at all without the spaces.
Elantra Touring is based on the i30 Estate.
i40 is the Sonata equivalent.
dg0472 says:
04:03 PM, 02/17/11
To qualify, the Sonata is sold in the Australasia area as the i45. The i40 sedan will be smaller than the YF Sonata, which won't be sold in Europe, even though the NF Sonata was. But this car is definitely not related to the UD Elantra.
bankerdanny says:
05:23 PM, 02/17/11
That's a great looking wagon, but I wish they would resist the temptation to curve the roofline down at the back. It's a wagon, don't compromise the utility for pointless design flare.
famof3kids says:
01:02 PM, 02/18/11
First thing I thought of....Mercedes R Class
tehnighthawk says:
08:31 AM, 02/20/11
I agree on the Mercedes R series, not a fan.