1.6-litre engine: Hyundai ix35 strikes compact SUV class with two new entry engines

Hyundai has equipped the Hyundai ix35 with two new entry engines. The Korean SUV model will be now available for sale with a small-sized 1.6 direct injection petrol engine in addition to a turbocharged diesel version.

Interesting for the Egyptian market due to its 1.6 liter engine, is the new direct injection petrol engine, which has an output of 135 hp and 164 Nm torque. This engine propels the Hyundai ix35 from 0-100 km/h in 11.8 seconds and reaches a respectable top speed of 178 km/h.

The fuel consumption is 6.8 liters per 100 km, whereas the CO2 emission-without the start stop option available for the Blue version- lies at a competitive 158 g/km.

With the above- mentioned environmental ISG (Idle Stop & Go)-technique, the fuel consumption drops to 6.4 liters per 100 km, whereas the CO2emission is reduced to 149 g/km

Also new for the ix35 is the 1.7 liter CRDi. The small volume turbocharged diesel version produces 116 hp and a whooping torque of 260 Nm. Performance figures for this engine are a top speed of 173 km/h and an acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 12.4 seconds.

For this engine version, the fuel consumption is 5.3 liters per 100 km, whereas the CO2 emission-without the start stop option available for the Blue version- lies at a competitive 139 g/km.
With the above-mentioned environmental friendly technique, the fuel consumption drops to 5.2 liters per 100 km, whereas the CO2emission is reduced to 135 g/km.

Both engines are available in the Comfort and Style trim and are only sold in the two wheel drive version.
Prices start at around 15.000 Euros for the Hyundai ix35 equipped with the 1.6 direct injection petrol engine version, whereas the 1.7 liter turbocharged diesel version starts at around 16.000 Euros.

This competitive price of the Hyundai ix35 includes a comprehensive security package. Among these features are downhill and hill start assist, brake assist, ABS, electronic stability program ESP, traction control, and active head restraints and six airbags as standard equipment.

The spacious comfort features include such an audio system including CD player, Connection for AUX, USB and iPod and a Bluetooth speakerphone.

Hyundai ix35 guarantee ride comfort in the air conditioning and 16-inch alloy rims. As with all models of the Korean car manufacturer, Hyundai ix35 has also called for the two new engine variants five-year warranty with no mileage limit and does all the maintenance costs for that period.

It is worth mentioning here, that the 1.6 liter version of the Hyundai ix 35 had been a main topic at a discussion round at the Hyundai Research Center in Ruesselsheim (Germany) between the Hyundai engineers and marketing managers on one hand and the jury members of the renowned International Engine of the Year Award, among them Auto Arabia’s editor, Mohamed Sheta.

While Hyundai cars in the Middle East and gulf region need to have large displacement-engines and be fully-loaded with luxury options in order to compete successfully, editor Sheta explained to the Hyundai engineers and marketing managers that in Egypt the situation is completely different.

Sheta explained to the Hyundai managers that due to immense custom duties in Egypt, Hyundai cars need to be equipped with an engine not larger than 1.6 litre in addition to an automatic transmission in order to have any chance of becoming successful against the other Japanese, French and Korean competitors in the Egyptian automotive market .

Targeting the Skoda Yeti, the BMW X1, the Audi Q5 beside the VW Tiguan and the Dacia Duster, the Hyundai ix35 with all its features will cause a major upset in the compact Sport Utility Vehicle category provided it is equipped with an advanced automatic transmission, which suits the crowded Egyptian traffic.

Otherwise it will be a peripheral phenomenon like all cars belonging to the same category and are marketed in Egypt only with a manual transmission.

AE