Hyundai News

Hyundai Motor Company has been a leading performer at the 2010 What Car? Magazine awards, with all three i-badged cars taking top three spots in the Supermini and Small Family car segments.

Recently launched in Australia and already a local award winner with ECO Car Magazine 'Car of the Year' 2010, the i20 has been acclaimed as a WhatCar? 'Best Buy' in the Supermini segment delivering class leading safety features and outstanding value for money.

Its smaller sister the i10 took out the award for 'Best Buy' Supermini under 8000 (AUD 13,880). Nifty and nimble, the i10 is a huge success in the UK and European markets since its launch in 2009. Offering outstanding fuel efficiency of just 4.9 l/100km, CO2 emissions of only 119 g/km, i10 offers extraordinary value and an interior package that belies its compact size.

In the Small Family Car class the multi-award winning i30 was again applauded for its exceptional safety package combined with luxury features. Generous interior space, a balance between performance and economy and five-year unlimited kilometre warranty combine to make i30 a leader in its segment.

Not to be outdone, the Santa Fe R-2.2 also received a 'Best Buy' in the 4x4 category. With plenty of space, practicality and power, Santa Fe offers effortless driving and capable towing, while occupants enjoy in-cabin refinements and a spacious cargo bay.

With over a million consumers referencing the publication and its associated outlets, including whatcar.com each month, WhatCar? is considered to be the largest and most influential buyers guide in the United Kingdom, providing reviews, prices, data and industry insights.

"Hyundai continues to win acclaim around the world for combining latest generation design with outstanding quality and value," said Hyundai Motor Company Australia's Marketing Director Oliver Mann.

Britain's biggest selling weekly motoring magazine, Auto Express has awarded the Hyundai i10 'Best City Car' at the annual Auto Express New Car Awards 2010.

A huge success in Europe, the nifty and nimble i10 played an enormous part in the 2009 sales success of Hyundai Motor Company globally, and has already collected a raft of awards since its launch, including Auto Express 'Best City Car' at the Used Car Awards in 2009, Indian Car of the Year 2008 and Best People's Car in the Asian Auto - VCA Auto Industry Awards 2009.

A firm favourite of British motorists for providing excellent fuel economy, and a full suite of standard safety features combined with modern looks and class leading performance, the i10 is now recognised by industry experts who applaud its industry leading five-year warranty.

Editor of Auto Express, David Johns, explained why the i10 was chosen: "Few small models have such a big-car feel inside, and the grown-up dynamics make this one city car you won't mind taking on long trips. Equipment is typically generous and you get the reassurance of the Korean brand's brilliant five-year warranty."

While the i10 is currently not available in Australia, sibling model i20 has recently launched to much acclaim, and is already collecting Australian awards having received the Eco Car of the Year Award 2010 from ECO Car magazine.

"This is great news for Hyundai," said Hyundai Motor Company Australia's Marketing Director Oliver Mann. "This award demonstrates Hyundai's continuing leadership in small car design

Australia's best selling diesel passenger car so far this year, the multi-award winning Hyundai i30 CRDi is set to compete in this weekend's QUIT Targa West 2010 rally in Western Australia.

With a class win and a Targa Trophy awarded at this year's Targa Tasmania rally, and a string of excellent results throughout the 2010 Australian Rally Championship (ARC) series including consistent class wins at each event it has competed in, the i30 has firmly established the it as a feisty rally competitor; not only tough but fuel efficient and fast.

The QUIT Targa West 2010 rally team of driver Razvan Vlad and navigator Ioana Vlad will take their i30 CRDi to Western Australia to compete in this year's event, keen to repeat the successes they enjoyed in the 2008 and 2009 events with outright class wins in both years and a podium finish in 2009.

"We are excited heading into this event knowing the potential the i30 CRDi has," said Razvan Vlad. "This is our third time at Targa West and we have had great results which we hope to continue. It is a long rally and everything must work well to get a good result, but I know the excellent reliability and handling of our i30 CRDi will give us an advantage again."

Competing in the 'Challenge Category', vehicles are limited to a top speed of 130 km/h so the Hyundai team have had to fit a speed limiter to comply with race standards, suspension which has been tuned to suit the conditions and a race route which includes the infamous 'Zig Zag' run.

"The multi-award winning i30 has proven itself in Targa West over the past two years," said Heinz Wiesner, Hyundai Motor Company's Regional General Manager. "This event is just another way the i30 CRDi can demonstrate its credibility and reliability, further proving why it is the Australia's most popular diesel passenger car."

Race support and technicians will be provided by Hyundai's West Australian dealer network. "Targa West provides an excellent opportunity for the professional team of Hyundai technicians to support the brand and to experience the competitive environment," said Mr. Wiesner. "The young guys love being part of the action on their home turf."

The QUIT Targa West 2010 event starts with two short stages at Whiteman Park followed by stages based around Kalamunda, with the famous Zig Zag run three times, before moving on to Toodyay. Final stages are in that region and the first time the event comes to an end in the Perth CBD with a spectacular Perth City Special Stage finale.

The 2010 NRMA Motoring & Services 'Cost of Ownership' report has been released with Hyundai Motor Company Australia's multi-award winning i30 SX CRDi turbo diesel manual once again confirmed as outright winner for the competitive and popular small car category.

With a whole of life weekly running cost total of just $114.73, the i30 SX CRDi turbo-diesel manual is the most cost effective vehicle to own and operate in its class.

In fact, Hyundai model variants took out six of the top ten places in the small car category.
The price of fuel plays a key role in family budgets with fluctuations as much as 70 cents recorded during the survey period. The Hyundai i30 SX CRDi turbo diesel result of $19.82 per week for fuel was the lowest overall for the survey across all categories helping it achieve outstanding results for the small car segment. The i30 SX CRDi manual also achieved the lowest running costs per week across all the categories with running costs of just $49.94 per week.

"Hyundai cars performed well in this year's survey. The i30 SX CRDi is the current Australia's 'Best Mid-size Car Under $30,000' and continues to be very competitive with the segment's lowest whole of life costs," said NRMA Head of Member Motoring, Brad O'Hara. "Motorists want to know dollar for dollar exactly what their car will cost them to run and the running costs calculator is the most comprehensive analysis tool available in Australia."

The NRMA's running costs calculator is Australia's most accurate cost calculator and was used to analyse the operating and ownership costs of 620 new vehicles in the 2010 report. The data covers variables such as fuel, cost of purchase, service and maintenance, insurance and depreciation and takes into account vehicle safety and greenhouse ratings.

"This is an outstanding accolade for the i30 SX CRDi manual to receive for the second year in a row," said Hyundai Motor Company Australia's Marketing Director, Oliver Mann. "Consumers are very conscious of the impact motor vehicles have in their weekly family budgets, and Hyundai are proud to be able to deliver the highest levels of safety, efficiency, economy and value in all of our vehicles."

Calculations are for private ownership in New South Wales, based on 15,000 kilometres travelled annually over an ownership period of five years. The formula takes into account the negotiated vehicle price, depreciation, opportunity interest, registration, comprehensive insurance, NRMA membership, maintenance and repairs and fuel.

Hyundai's multi-award winning range continues to break records in Australia. The Hyundai iMax achieved its best ever monthly market share capturing 24.1% of the people mover market. Hyundai was also the number one importer in June, ranking fourth overall for the month; and third in passenger car sales in June.

Hyundai also posted its best ever monthly result since the factory established the wholly owned subsidiary Hyundai Motor Company Australia. The sales result of 8,055 units was also Hyundai's second best ever sales result since the brand started selling cars in Australia in 1986; whilst the 42,371 June YTD 2010 cumulative sales result represents the best ever first six months of the year sales result.

"Last month was terrific month for both sales and awards, with a number of Hyundai vehicles being recognised in the 2010 Vehicle Operating Costs Surveys conducted by the NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAA, RAC and RACT motoring clubs," said Damien Meredith, Hyundai's Director of Sales. "It's terrific that our newer models like the i30 and the ix35 compact SUV are gaining such important recognition by these leading organisations. Our new model roll-out continues in July with the launch of the new i20 compact hatch, which will be a highly competitive entrant to the light car segment."

Overseas, Hyundai Motor Company's global sales increased +11.3% (June 2010 v. June 2009) to 312,388 units. Hyundai Motor America posted its best ever June result and entire first half of the year. In June, the company sold 51,205 vehicles in the U.S., up +35% (June 2010 v. June 2009). Year to date, Hyundai Motor America sales are up +25% compared with 2009 and are on target to eclipse 500,000 units of annual volume for the first time ever. Based on retail-only sales data, the new i45 sedan - known as Sonata in North America - emerged as America's third best-selling mid-size sedan for the third month in a row.

Hyundai's Australian highlights include:

• Hyundai's result in June of 8,055 units (7.4% share) represents a +2.5% volume increase over its achievement of 7,862 units (7.6% share) in June 2009.
• Getz ranked first in the light car segment achieving 2,327 vehicle sales and a 16.9% market share.
• The i30 range ranked third in the small car segment achieving 3,209 vehicle sales and a 12.5% market share.
• The all-new ix35 compact SUV achieved 783 units.
• iMax ranked first in the people mover segment, after posting a sales result of 290 units and market share of 24.1%, its best ever market share.
• iLoad ranked second in the van segment after posting a sales result of 561 units and a 22.4% market share.

Hyundai's global June 2010 highlights include:

• Hyundai's South Korean domestic sales declined -34.9% to 48,643 units in June from 74,685 units a year earlier.
• Total overseas sales, including both exports from South Korea and sales from overseas plants, rose by +28.1% to 263,745 units in June, up from 205.886 units a year earlier.
• Exports were up +28% in June as compared to a year earlier.
• Sales from overseas plants rose +28.2% percent to 156,610 units.

Hyundai's global June YTD 2010 highlights include:

• Hyundai's South Korean domestic sales rose +1.9% to 321,240 units June YTD from 315,100 units a year earlier.
• Total overseas sales, including both exports from South Korea and sales from overseas plants, rose by +34% to 1,442,105 units June YTD, up from 1,076,479 units a year earlier.
• Exports were up +31.9% June YTD as compared to a year earlier.
• Sales from overseas plants rose +35.2% percent to 907,923 units.