If anyone didn't think Hyundai is serious in its ongoing ambition to be among the top four global carmakers, they'll get the message when they sit inside the new i40 medium family/executive model, writes Brian Byrne.
Hyundai have had cars of this size before, but that was before they moved into their new 'modern premium' ethos, and they didn't really stack up against the established main players from Ford, Toyota, Opel and Volkswagen.
Now they have something that should be causing a certain level of extra worry lines on the faces of executives in these other brands.
I drove it last week at a special preview outside Frankfurt. And, despite the fact that these were pre-production cars with some minor blemishes in build and fit, I came away impressed. Very impressed.
The pictures, and the debut versions I saw recently at the Geneva Motor Show, had prepared me for a positive experience. The drive in the mountains behind Germany's financial capital confirmed it. This is a contender.
Hyundai Ireland is bullish about the i40. Enough to suggest that they'll sell 'at least' 1,000 units here next year. And if most of them are of the wagon version, which they expect, it will be another turnup for the Irish market, traditionally estate-averse. The style of the wagon, which is being launched first, could well do it.
The positioning of the new car is further out in the emotional/sporty segment than, say, Mazda's 6. Which is itself further out in that space than is Ford's Mondeo. But the more conservative Toyota Avensis and VW's Passat have also been used as benchmarks in the i40's development.
Some style cues are already familiar from other cars in the Korean maker's range. The grille and lights treatments particularly. But it most noticeably carries the genes of the ix35 replacement for the Tucson. Designers always come up with somewhat exotic descriptions for their latest styling ethos. In Hyundai's case it is 'fluidic sculpture'.
Like the ix35, the lines of the i40 are strongly sculpted. The 'diving roof' style gives a somewhat coupe effect, helped by the rake of the tailgate window and some clever work around the rear quarters. Clever because the sporty look doesn't actually mitigate against headroom for the rear passengers.
The inside reflects those same strong theme of the outside sheet metal, with a pronounced centre stack design and deep curves in the lower dash trim sweeping into the door design.
They did well with the seats. Front and rear they are commodious, and hold their occupants well. A unique feature in the segment is the reclining ability of the back seats, providing more comfort for the long haul.
Hyundai plans a couple of other unique ideas in the production cars, an automatic defogging system and a heated steering wheel. Beyond those there will be available many of the safety and comfort high tech options seen mainly in the premium levels. More on those when the final specifications for Ireland are agreed.
At launch in the summer, powertrain options will include 1.6 and 2.0 direct injection petrol units with 135/177hp respectively, and 1.7 diesels in 115/135hp flavours. A 160hp version of that diesel is coming down the line a little later.
The Irish offering at the end of June will include the two diesels, and a decision is still pending in relation to providing a petrol option. With three grades envisaged, the middle one is expected to be the most popular. The 115hp engine emits just 113g/km CO2, so it sits comfortably in the A band.
In one respect, our preview drive in advance of the full international launch in June had us as part of a pre-production test team. It seems there are two suspension settings available, but the individual market has to choose its own. Those of us from Ireland made the very strong suggestion that the firmer of settings should be chosen for here.
Again despite being pre-production pilot cars, the level of refinement even while driving fast on the autobahn was very high. The torquiness of the diesel in the twisting hills of the drive offered a splendid element of fun, and bodes well for the i40 to be an engaging car when it arrives in final form.
In Ireland this size of car is important for fleet business, with the user-chooser a strongly courted target. Stung by costly maintenance during the decline of the Celtic Tiger, when many corporate users extended their leases beyond the normal 2-3 years warranty period, fleet managers are likely to be attracted by Hyundai's 5-year Triple Care package as much as by the very perceptible higher level of quality and finish in the i40.
And has the time of the wagon begun to return? Well, across Europe, 54 percent of all cars bought in this segment are estate formats, only 26 percent are sedans. And even in Ireland, where overall wagon penetration is less than one in ten cars sold, Hyundai have recorded a 35 percent sales score by the CW wagon version of their i30 compact family car. In many cases, customers have come out of compact SUVs. There's an argument to be made that many of those whose family car has been a medium SUV for the last four or five years would look very strongly at a sexy-looking estate that gives them as much space as their current chariot, with more flexibility and comfort.
And with A-band frugality. Well, wouldn't you?
