Here’s a novel way to keep your customers happy, especially if they’re waiting for their new ride to arrive and it’s taking way longer than expected. Over in the UK, Hyundai has come up with a rather interesting plan, one that sees customers waiting for their new ix35 (the Tucson over here) to arrive to get an ix35 in the meantime.

Confusing? Not, once the details become clear. Seems that demand for the ix35 has been unprecedented, not only across Europe but also worldwide, resulting in supply not being able to meet demand, especially so in the case of the 2.0 litre diesel derivative.

So, in what is a unique approach, the UK office has come up with this: 200 of its longest waiting customers who have booked the 2.0 diesel SUVs will be offered a 1.7 litre diesel ix35, of which there is ready stock of. They purchase the manual 1.7, use it until their original 2.0 order arrives, at which point they trade-in the two-wheel drive 1.7 for the same price they paid for it, paying only the difference in the price of the 1.7 and 2.0 diesel versions.

The no-cost implications offer, which runs till the end of the month, also sees Hyundai giving the customer £300 to cover the costs incurred for arranging finance and insurance on two cars instead of one. The company is currently looking at the feasibility of rolling out this offer to other customers.

It’s a great deal for the UK ix35 buyer, so guess that’s one for them then. Don’t expect to be seeing something like this happening here from any car company, certainly not on this scale, if ever.

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Hyundai has revealed the first images of its all-new i40 wagon ahead of the vehicle’s world premiere in Geneva. The exterior shots follow on the teaser pix released earlier in the month of the car’s interior.

The i40, which is the company’s first midsize vehicle to be developed specifically for the European market, will come with a package of powertrains, equipment and technology tailored for the continent. The wagon will be joined by a sedan variant later in the year.

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Among the powertrains will be a 1.7 litre diesel engine, codenamed UII, and items on the standard equipment list will include three segment firsts – heated and reclining front and rear seats; a heated steering wheel; and an active demist system that automatically detects and clears condensation on the windscreen.

The i40′s debut also coincides with Hyundai’s launch of its new brand slogan – New Thinking. New Possibilities – that represents the company’s bold new concept of “modern premium,” a philosophy that premium quality and characteristics should be accessible to everyone.

Even though Hyundai already has a C-segment sports car in the form of the Hyundai Veloster, apparently it has another 2-door coupe for the C-segment planned to target those who prefer a more traditional coupe form, instead of the Scirocco-like Veloster.

It seems that Hyundai dealers in the US – the only country which still sells C-segment and D-segment coupes in a huge abundance – have already seen photos of the Elantra Coupe and they like it naturally, as anything appealing would do well to boost their sales coffers.

No photos or even sketches of the upcoming Elantra Coupe have been released so far, but Theophilus Chin has whipped up some renderings of what an Elantra Coupe could look like. I must say it looks pretty sexy!

Even though Naza Kia is electing to launch their 2-door Kia Forte Koup here soon, it remains to be seen whether Hyundai will make a right hand drive version of the Elantra Coupe in the first place, and only then will we be able to bug Hyundai Sime Darby Motors on whether they will offer it here in Malaysia.

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More on the teaser front, it seems. Hyundai new VF wagon, better known as the i40, will be making its world premiere in Geneva, and the company has released the first official photo of the car, revealing the interior. Elements featuring in the cabin include a dark base highlighted by chrome accents as well as leather seats.

Designed and engineered at Hyundai’s European R&D headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany, and specifically for the European market, the all-new D-segment model is aimed at moving the company towards a ‘modern premium’ positioning, offering high-end features and vehicle quality at an accessible price.

No technical details have yet emerged about the estate, save that it is slated to on sale in Europe from June this year, and it’ll be followed by a sedan form later in the year.

The Hyundai Veloster is one of the main stars of Detroit 2011. As an affordable coupe with lots of tech, striking looks and a unique “third door”, it was bound to be a hit at the Cobo Center. Click here to see the pics and a video.

The third door is only on the passenger’s side, which is the right side on the showcar. But if Hyundai plans to rework the car for right-hand drive markets, will the third door be moved to our passenger side, which is the left, or will they just leave the LHD arrangement as it is, like the MINI Clubman.

Well, it looks like Hyundai will invest in a RHD conversion. Hyundai Motor Company Australia has announced that the Veloster will be launched Down Under. “Launch timing has still to be locked in, but most likely will be late 2011,” the statement read. “Veloster’s unique three door layout will see one door on the driver’s side and two doors on the opposite side allowing easy rear seat access,” it added.

There we go. It mentions two doors on the opposite side. Perhaps Hyundai-Sime Darby might see a case for bringing the Veloster in, perhaps…