GENEVA: LATEST HYUNDAI MODELS TO EMBODY NEW BRAND DIRECTION AT GENEVA MOTOR SHOW

06.02.2011 / Seoul - Cairo - Dubai /

Hyundai will unveil two new models for Europe, as well as the company’s latest concept car, at the 2011 Salon International de L’Automobile in Geneva on 1st March. The three newcomers signify a new era for Hyundai captured neatly by the new brand slogan, �New Thinking. New Possibilities’.

Making its world premiere in Geneva will be Hyundai’s all-new D-segment model, the i40. Designed and engineered at Hyundai’s European R&D headquarters in R?¼sselsheim, Germany, the i40 will move the company towards a â€?modern premium’ positioning that will bring high-end features and vehicle quality to Hyundai customers at accessible prices.

The evolution of the brand is also evidenced in the unique design aesthetic of Hyundai’s form language �fluidic sculpture’, which gives the i40 an innovative and attractive silhouette around a spacious and luxurious interior. The first official image of i40, revealed today, shows the sculpted shapes and thoughtful layout of the high-quality interior.

The i40 will go on sale from June 2011, supported by an upgraded version of Hyundai’s industry-best, fully transparent assurance package Five Year Triple Care.

The i40 will be joined on stage by the new Veloster, the company’s groundbreaking all-new three-door coupe making its European debut. First shown at the North American International Auto Show last month, the Veloster features a unique 1+2 door configuration and combines sporting looks, real-world practicality and cutting-edge technology – as well as best in class CO2 emissions of just 132 g/km.

Another model making its European premiere will be the Curb concept. Codenamed HCD-12, this compact Urban Activity Vehicle (UAV) features next-generation fluidic sculpture styling, and serves as a test bed for future Hyundai Blue Linkâ„¢ telematics technology.

Hyundai will also showcase the latest developments to come from its Blue DriveTM eco-focused program, including the electric BlueOn and ix35 FCEV. The company is targeting global leadership in the field of environmental technologies, with current and future Blue DriveTM models reducing Hyundai’s emissions in Europe.

More details of Hyundai’s star cars will be published in advance of the show, and media materials will be available on the stand in Hall 1.

Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Co. has grown into the Hyundai Motor Group which has ranked as the world’s fifth-largest automaker since 2007 and includes more than two dozen auto-related subsidiaries and affiliates. Hyundai Motor, which has six manufacturing bases outside of South Korea, sold approximately 3.6 million vehicles globally in 2010.

Hyundai vehicles are sold in 186 countries through some 5,300 dealerships and showrooms.