THIS is the second time I’ve been to Hyundai’s European base in Offenbach, Germany, and an impressive place it is.
We went there to get a preview of the new Hyundai i40 estate car – you can read the news story about it here: Hyundai i40 estate launches with class-leading CO2 – along with the Veloster coupe. I’d already had a sneak preview six months ago, but this time it really registered on me how sportingly attractive the car is with its sharp curvature on the rear end – yet there’s no lacking rear headroom in the back.
It’s Hyundai’s really big crack at the Ford Mondeo sized family car and the company car sector. These cars tend to be important, because they often define the brand. It also gives Hyundai a more complete range for business car managers.
Something that Hyundai’s managing director, Tony Whitehorn, was keen to point out: “For SMEs this is really important. It gives businesses a one-stop shop at their local Hyundai dealer because we now have a range progression that can fit different job grades, from the i20 supermini through to the i30 hatchback and the new i40 estate for the guy at the top.”
It’s the first time I’ve met Tony. And he’s very engaging. And naturally excited by the possibilities the new car opens up for the company; as well as the challenges, or course. While Tony sees the Hyundai i40 as a key company car for the larger fleets, he also sees it appealing to small business, too.
“Hyundai has always had sound rational reasons for buying the cars – good value, our fantastic Five Year Triple Assurance warranty cover, reliability, low running costs, but what was lacking was emotional appeal,” explains Tony.
“As I think we’ve seen, that’s changing with our ‘fluidic sculpture’ design that we’ve seen on the ix35 and the new ix20.
“The i40 is the next step. And that’s important for small businesses.
