Hyundai has come out with an official announcement on its new D-segment car for Europe, about a week after the first illustrations of the i40 made their way onto the web. The i40, which was known by the codename ‘VF’ during development, is essentially the European market version of the North American and Korean Sonata, and will compete against cars like Ford Mondeo, VW Passat and Citroen C5. 
The new i40 will make its world premiere in estate form at the upcoming Geneva Salon in March 2011, with a four door sedan model following later in the same year. It was designed at Hyundai’s European R&D facilities in Rüsselsheim, Germany, and according to the South Korean firm, it is the company’s first D-segment model to be specifically developed for the European market.
Hyundai claims that the i40 will further boost European consumer perception of the brand to "a more aspirational position" thanks to the vehicle's design, quality, performance and technical features.
“We have bold ambitions for Hyundai in Europe, and the new i40 will provide the momentum we need to achieve our goals in 2011 and beyond. We expect the quality of the new i40 to continue the development of our image in Europe and attract new customers to the Hyundai brand,” commented Allan Rushforth, Vice President of Hyundai Motor Europe.
“The i40 perfectly combines the four elements that have become core Hyundai values: practicality, performance, efficiency, and styling. Our designers and engineers have produced a car that encapsulates what European motorists look for in a D-segment vehicle,” Mr Rushforth added.
The South Korean firm said that the i40 will be Hyundai's most innovative model on sale in Europe, featuring the latest environmental technologies developed under the company’s Blue Drive eco-program, and a powertrain line-up with "best-in-class performance and fuel economy, and very low CO2 emissions."
While Hyundai did not release any specific details on the engine line-up, it is believed that at launch, consumers will have the choice a 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol with direct injection and an output of around 170-horsepower, plus two variants of the a 1.7-liter turbo-diesel with 115 HP and 136 HP.
The company said more information on the i40 will be released nearer the time of car's motor show world premiere in Geneva.
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In terms of design, Hyundai’s newcomer may look very similar to the latest Elantra sold in North America and other parts of the world. However, measuring 4.74 meters (186.6-in.) in length, the i40 approximately 380 mm or 15-inches longer than the compact sedan. Europe’s equivalent of the Sonata rides on a wheelbase of 2.77-meters, with Hyundai claiming it offers best-in-class room for front head, shoulder and leg. The Korean carmaker also boasts that the i40 will provide passengers with "the most comfortable ride available in the D-segment".
