New front and rear light designs feature alongside a new front bumper and grille
New styling for facelifted i40, along with upgraded engines and better handling
The Hyundai i40 has been overhauled for 2015, with the key changes including refreshed styling, upgraded engines, a new transmission, ride and handling tweaks, and new safety features and technology.
The refreshed car gets new front and rear lights, the updated version of the manufacturer’s hexagonal front grille and a redesigned front bumper with integrated LED foglights. New designs of 16in and 18in alloy wheels are also available.
Inside the car, Hyundai has focused on comfort, cabin versatility and practicality. Higher-grade materials have been used on important touch points such as the steering wheel, armrests and gear knob.
The new i40 is available with a 1.7-litre diesel engine in two states of tune. The more powerful variant, which is also the most popular, now has more power and torque, with 139bhp and 251lb ft from 1750rpm.
While a six-speed manual transmission is standard, Hyundai’s new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission can be specified with this engine. The lower-powered diesel, which generates 113bhp and 207lb ft, can only be ordered with the six-speed gearbox.
Hyundai has also overhauled the car’s ride and handling balance. The Advanced Traction Cornering Control (ATCC) system has been developed to enhance cornering ability and overall agility. The system, which is only available on some variants, uses electronic sensors to emulate the behaviour of a limited-slip differential during cornering by braking the inside wheel and directing more torque to the outside wheel.
The refreshed i40’s driver mode settings have been enhanced with a new Rear Electronic Damping Control System (ECS), which is fitted to the i40 Tourer. The driver can adapt the suspension, steering, throttle response and transmission settings through the drive modes.
The Smart Power Tailgate first seen on the Hyundai Genesis has been incorporated onto some variants. The system automatically opens the boot when the driver approaches the rear of the i40 with the car key in their pocket. Other new kit includes a heated steering wheel and solar and privacy glass.
Hyundai has upgraded the i40’s navigation system on derivatives that are fitted with the system. The 7-inch TFT colour touchscreen boasts improved functionality, new graphics and a 3D display mode, while DAB radio is also included on the car for the first time.
The standard audio system is an evolution of the system available on the current car. It incorporates improvements to the screen technology, which is now a monochrome TFT LCD. A high-resolution TFT LCD dashboard display is another new feature.
Other new kit includes optional bi-xenon headlights, smart high-beam assist and speed limit sign identification, the latter being a first on a Hyundai.
The current-generation i40, which was launched in July 2011, was designed and engineered at the company’s European base in Rüsselsheim, Germany.
It has played an important role in Hyundai’s growth, achieving European sales of almost 100,000 units since launch and increasing the brand’s share of the D-segment market to more than five per cent.
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