Hyundai i30 – third-generation makes official debut

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Hyundai has officially revealed the third-generation i30 ahead of the Paris Motor Show, after teasing the hatchback’s arrival prior. Set to go on sale in early 2017, the five-door hatchback now adopts a more contemporary design that before, and has an expanded engine line-up as well.

According to Hyundai, design is the number one buying reason for Hyundai customers in Europe. Therefore, the i30 adopts the company’s latest design language, starting with what it calls a “Cascading Grille” that will become the new family identity for future Hyundai models as well.

The upright, hexagonal-shape grille tapers is framed by a satin chrome surround, and tapers towards the bottom, with chrome-plated dots forming the mesh. The Korean market model features a lightly-tweaked grille instead. For illumination, there are LED headlamps that appear to be inspired by the Ioniq and front fog lamps, which share their enclosure with LED DRLs (with indicator function).

For the rear, Hyundai has redesigned the greenhouse to be more upright than before, and the new headlamps are now smaller than before. Elsewhere, the reflector/rear fog lamp fittings have been pushed upwards, joined by a concave section bordering the rear hatch.

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No shortage of colours to choose from as Hyundai lists no less than 12 exterior options. As for wheel choices, you can have either 17-inch two-tone 10-spoke alloy wheels, 16-inch two-tone 10-spoke alloy wheels or 15-inch steel wheels.

The i30’s profile also appears sleeker than before, thanks to a longer bonnet, as well as shorter front/rear overhangs. Breaking out the measuring tape, you’ll find that the new car is 40 mm longer (4,340 mm) and 15 mm wider (1,795 mm). The sportier stance is attributed to the reduced height, which is up to 20 mm lower than before. Wheelbase remains unchanged here at 2,650 mm.

Other relevant numbers include a drag coefficient of 0.30, courtesy of an Active Air Flap behind the front grille, and a reduced body-in-white weight of 28 kg. The latter is thanks to the use of high-strength steel, which has almost doubled to 53%, and also provides 22% more rigidity than before.

Inside, the i30 appears more upmarket than before, and features a total overhaul of the main dash. Gone is the continuous vertical design of the second-gen model, replaced by a more conventional setup. Right in the driver’s view is a free-standing, eight-inch, touchscreen infotainment unit that features all the usual media and navigation needs. Lesser variants will get a non-touchscreen and smaller unit (five-inch) instead.

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Proceeding downwards, you’ll find more subtle air-con vents, followed by new switchgear for the car’s dual-zone climate control system. The power port, Qi wireless charger and USB connector is now tucked way under a cover, and just beyond that, is the gear lever and electronic parking brake release. Other changes includes the instrument binnacle that appears to mimic the front grille’s design, and a three-spoke steering wheel.

Optional items here include a glass panoramic sunroof, along with a variety of colour and upholstery package, including two-tone ones. Hyundai claims segment-leading roominess in the new i30, and states that the hatchback offers 395 litres of space, with a maximum of 1,301 litres when the seats are folded flat.

Safety kit here include Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Driver Attention Alert (DAA), Smart Cruise Control (SCC), Blind Spot Detector (BSD), Rear-Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Speed Limit Information Function (SLIF), High Beam Assist (HBA) and a total of seven airbags (dual front, side, curtain and single driver’s knee).

For power, the i30 is the first Hyundai to get the carmaker’s new 1.4 T-GDI turbocharged four cylinder petrol engine. The new mill is 14 kg lighter than its predecessor, the 1.4 litre Gamma, while delivering 140 PS at 6,000 rpm and 242 Nm of torque at 1,500 rpm.

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A smaller 1.0 T-GDI turbocharged three-cylinder powerplant is also available, with 120 PS at 6,000 rpm and 170 Nm at 1,500 to 4,000 rpm on tap. For those who prefer the NA route, there’s a 1.4 litre MPI KAPPA unit, with 100 PS at 6,000 rpm and 134 Nm at 4,000 rpm. All petrol engines are paired with a six-speed manual, but only the 1.4 T-GDI can be had with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission as well.

A sole 1.6 litre turbodiesel in three different states of tune – 95 PS/280 Nm, 110 PS/280 Nm and 136 PS/up to 300 Nm – is available for those who prefer oil burners. Both transmission choices are available for all diesel engine types, except the 95 PS option, which only gets the six-speed manual.

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Gerard Lye

Originating from the corporate world with a background in finance and economics, Gerard’s strong love for cars led him to take the plunge into the automotive media industry. It was only then did he realise that there are more things to a car than just horsepower count.

 

Comments

  • Pires Loo on Sep 08, 2016 at 10:39 am

    eat kimchi, no RV.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 33
    • 1MDB (Malas Dolop Bodoh) on Sep 08, 2016 at 2:03 pm

      Hopefully the lazy Proton can learn from hyundai. Hyundai just started 10 years earlier than Proton and YET, Hyundai sells 10 million cars worldwide.

      Proton only sells 70,000 cars yearly and that also, 90% taken up by Spanco for the Malaysian Government and the Malaysian Government buys directly from Proton

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 2
      • But Sam says P1 still got better RV, especially new Perdana cuz got jepunis DNA woh

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 4
        • karam singh on Sep 08, 2016 at 6:00 pm

          No one gonna say it copied Audi or Pug 308 ?
          lol
          if this a proton, people gonna bash
          well, expected from former Audi Designer

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 3
    • Carbon on Sep 08, 2016 at 2:47 pm

      Bro. It’s 2016. Let’s stop talking about RV per se shall we? Ladies don’t buy handbag thinking to make profit of out selling it later. But they very much enjoy the joy and pride it brings. That’s the price to pay.
      Same goes to us guys… We enjoy the fun, joy and pride certain cars bring to us, while acknowledging the price to pay (in terms of cost of maintenance, resale value). If everyone talks about RV, BMW, Merz and alike won’t be able to sell to a single soul, fun cars like Megane, Focus RS won’t be made.
      While Korean cars had a choppy image in the beginning, they’ve very much improved in terms of looks, performance, reliability, luxury.
      So let’s appreciate cars for their performance, specs sheet, looks etc, and not for their RV alone, shall we?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 25 Thumb down 4
      • Ollie on Sep 08, 2016 at 5:19 pm

        If you open mudah you’ll see the RV issue is dead and buried 10 feet underground with the price of Sonata, Optima, Elantra. The older Fortes are a steal for 35-40k for 2.0 model. Apart from the Forte as its first batch, RV for Korean cars are on par with anything. A smart buyer will go for 2nd hand Forte though.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 4
      • Hengo on Sep 08, 2016 at 5:20 pm

        We should

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Same Lorrr on Sep 08, 2016 at 3:45 pm

      Oh Kimchi! No RV!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 20
  • Fatimah on Sep 08, 2016 at 11:24 am

    The Koreans sell millions of cars over 150 countries a year. Proton still struggle to sell 50k cars a year in one country.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 2
    • But Sammy says P1 still got better RV, especially new Perdana cuz got jepunis DNA

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
  • spongewai on Sep 08, 2016 at 11:25 am

    interior looks refined but exterior, what is going on?!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • Hopefully Hyundai Malaysia will bring this in.
    The I30 in Malaysia already 2 generation behind.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
  • klguy on Sep 08, 2016 at 11:56 am

    aiyo, koreans…creative la sikit, this thing looks just like 308

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 5
  • horrayooi on Sep 08, 2016 at 12:19 pm

    It has proper temperature gauge not like the Japanese
    brand idiot engineers who gave us only temperature idiot lights for B segment cars like Vios and City.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • kereta_lembu on Sep 08, 2016 at 1:23 pm

    Did they just hire the Peugeot designer?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Just like K-plastic surgery, nothing in this car is original anymore

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 5
  • Untung Manyak Wang on Sep 08, 2016 at 3:54 pm

    According to 2016 24H Rennen Result, A kimchi production based 1.6T car better than:

    1 unit Ford Mustang
    2 units Porsche Cayman S
    1 unit BMW E82
    1 unit BMW Z4 E86
    1 unit VW Golf 5 R-line GTI
    1 unit Lexus IS-F CCS-R
    4 units BMW M235I Racing
    1 unit Scirocco Cup R
    1 unit Cayman 981 GT4 CS
    1 unit Scirocco GT-RS
    1 unit Porsche 991
    1 unit Golf GTI TCR
    1 unit Ford Focus RS
    57 units DNC/DNF/DNS

    :p

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
 

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