But the car is ready sooner, so Hyundai built early models in Korea, and decided to offer the car to Korean buyers. It sold 2,000 units in its first full month there, triple projections.
Says Hyun-Soon Lee, r&d head: “If we had the Czech plant in advance, we wouldn’t do that. It has far exceeded our forecasts.”
The i30 is the first Hyundai to carry the "i" in its name. The number 30 is the numerical equivalent of the letter assigned to the i30's segment, the European C segment. Hyundai will later name other vehicles in the same way, but says that it will not immediately replace the names of current models.
Specifically designed and developed for Europe, with the i30 Korea’s leading car maker has produced a stylish model that will blend seamlessly into the C-segment and a car that is capable of competing with the very best in its class. Thanks to exacting engineering standards and superb build quality, matched with a well thought out Euro-specific design and exceptional levels of equipment and finish, i30 is all set to take the fight to the fully established European marques, like Ford’s Focus, Renault’s Megane, Citroen’s C4, Mazda’s 3 and Peugeot’s 307.
Hyundai’s highly acclaimed and multi-award-winning Santa Fe has already proven Hyundai can build a car capable of beating the best that Europe can offer in the SUV segment.
In terms of packaging, quality, driving dynamics, safety, style and image, i30 now takes Hyundai to a new level in the family car category and is capable of equalling or bettering anything in its class in Europe.
In a first for Hyundai on its passenger cars, ESP, a safety system which, combined with electronic traction control, balances power and braking to help the driver maintain control over the direction of the vehicle at all times, is fitted as standard to all models in the i30 range.
The system assists the driver in the event that he or she is forced to swerve the vehicle, to avoid a collision for example, or if traction is lost when cornering. ESP helps to keep the vehicle headed in the intended direction where it might otherwise unavoidably slide, or worse, spin out of control, often ending up facing in the opposite direction.
Other key safety features across the range include active front head restraints to reduce the risk of whiplash injury, passenger, driver and full length curtain airbags, passenger airbag deactivation switch, front and rear seatbelt reminder system, seatbelt pre-tensioners and ISOFIX child seat fixing points in the rear. Added range-wide comfort and equipment features include, front fog lights, remote-locking folding key, glove box cooling, electrically heated door mirrors and a trip computer.
