Hyundai to Strike Hard in Europe with New i30 Hatchback

Previously, the cars and SUVs that Hyundai produced were global vehicles.The current Sonata, Santa Fe and Tucson are also sold in almost every market Hyundai is entered in. The Elantra, in generations prior, was essentially the same vehicle around the world too, with minor changes to suit local markets. It seems that Hyundai's strategy has changed outright with its latest generation small car. While North Americans were introduced to the new Elantra late last year, now the Europeans will be getting their own compact car built on a significantly different chassis. It's called the i30, and it will be debuting at this year's Geneva Motor Show.

For the longest time, it was expected that Hyundai’s new compact car would be called the Arnejs, named after the HED-3 Arnejs concept vehicle, however, Hyundai’s marketing team decided to christen it the i30. Is this naming tactic a sign that Hyundai is aiming to adopt an alphanumeric naming system like so many European and Japanese manufacturers? It’s hard to say, but in any case i30will be a lot easier for customers to pronounce than Arnejs, not to mention the link to the oh-so-trendy iPod, or the stylish Volvo C30.

It’s amazing how far Hyundai has come in terms of design. It doesn’t take turning back all that many pages in Hyundai’s history to find mildly reworked boxes that had little flair or visual appeal. The i30 is certainly not bland, but rather it’s a smart looking machine and one that's definitely influenced by the Europeans, as was its designer's goals. It features styling tricks such as the upwards sweeping lower belt line in order to give the car a sense of motion, unique wrap-around headlamps and vertical, almond-shaped tail lights. The i30 also features a new grille comprised of a thin chrome strip, with the Hyundai logo at center, much like the current Honda Accord.

Underneath its skin, the i30 is based on the same platform as Kia's revolutionary cee'd, which has been winning over the European media with its excellent driving dynamics, superb materials and impressive build quality. The platform is also unusual in that it offers a fully independent front and rear suspension, including a five-link rear suspension setup, the same type used in the Mazda3 and Volkswagen Rabbit.

The body structure is also amongst the most rigid in the compact car class, helping it deliver a quieter ride and greater safety in the event of an accident.

The i30 will retain the same powertrain selection as its Kia brother, which includes 1.4-, 1.6- and 2.0-liter gasoline-powered engines, as well as 1.6- and 2.0-liter CRDi turbodiesel engines in global markets, with a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic.

Delivering style and substance, the Hyundai i30 will take the brand deep into European compact car territory. If ever there was a Hyundai to change the opinions of the masses, this looks to be it.