Hyundai Motor America 10550 Talbert Ave, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 MEDIA WEBSITE: HyundaiNews.com CORPORATE WEBSITE: HyundaiUSA.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HYUNDAI REVEALS THREE NEW MODELS AT SHANGHAI AUTO SHOW Meeyoung Song Product Public Relations Manager +82+2­3464­2156 [email protected] ID: 28298 Hyundai unveils third China­exclusive model, designed at BHMC’s Technical Center Hyundai introduces the i30, its first hatchback model in China Hyundai launches its Blue Drive strategy in Shanghai, eco­friendly vehicles SHANGHAI,China, April 20, 2009­At the Shanghai Auto Show today, Beijing Hyundai Motor Co. unveils three new models which will add fresh momentum to Hyundai's growth in China. BT01 Topping the list of exhibits is the BT01 mid­sized sedan which builds on the success of Hyundai's localization strategy. Like the Yuedong and Lingxiang NF, the BT01 is tailored to meet the tastes and needs of the Chinese car buyer but with the critically important new dimension of being locally developed. Longer than its predecessor by 25mm, the BT01 truly is a milestone in the history of the Hyundai Motor­Beijing Automotive partnership, as it is the very first model to be independently styled and engineered by BHMC and attests to the growing capabilities of the Beijing Hyundai Technical Center and its codename reflects this. Hyundai made headlines in Dec. 2002 with the launch of its EF Sonata in the China market, its first vehicle produced in China. While the basic platform remains unchanged, the sheet metal changes on the new BT01 have been limited to the hood and trunk lid. All exterior plastic parts have been revised including headlamps, fog lamps, radiator grille, front and rear bumpers and side trim. On the inside, the backlighting of the central gauge cluster has been changed from the original green in favor of red which is highly popular with Chinese people. Designers opted for a two­tone color scheme while seat materials, interior trim and colors have also been updated. Also new to the BT01 is an embedded DVD/GPS Navigation unit located in the centre stack. BT01 may go on sale this summer at which time its official name and pricing will be announced. Power is supplied by the 2L Beta engine mated to a 5­ speed transmission, models including which will account for nearly 80 percent of sales. A four­speed automatic transmission option will also be available. Other optional features include ABS/EBD, keyless entry, back­up warning system and air conditioning. Equus Hyundai's new luxury flagship makes its debut in China, taking its place alongside the 2009 North American Car of the Year Award winner, Rohens (sold as Genesis in all other markets). While the Equus and Rohens share common rear wheel drive architecture, the all­new Equus luxury sedan stands in a class of its own poised to reshape popular perceptions of the Hyundai brand. Fitted with the 4.6L Tau V8 engine, named by Wards Automotive as one of 2009's Ten Best Engines, the Equus sports advanced safety features including nine airbags, a Lane Departure Warning System with a pre­safety seatbelts and Smart Cruise Control. A reclining airline­style business­class seat with a built­in massage system is among the numerous luxury options. i30 Hyundai brings its first ever hatchback and European flair to the Chinese market with the i30, which was styled at the company's European Design Center in Russelsheim Germany. The five­door hatchback taps into China's diversifying car demand as consumers shift away from conventional four­door sedans. The base model is equipped with the 122hp 1.6L Gamma engine, which should prove popular as a result of Chinese government tax cuts instituted earlier this year on cars with engines sized 1600cc or smaller. A 143hp 2L Beta engine is also available. All models are equipped with dual airbags and EBD/ABS as standard. ix­onic Concept Car The sensational all­new Hyundai ix­onic concept car arrives in Shanghai having made its world premiere at the 79th Salon International de L’Automobile in Geneva. Assertive, but not aggressive, the ix­onic (pronounced “ik­sonnik”) introduces a whole new look for a compact 4x4 SUV by combining dynamic, sculpted, performance­oriented styling with an environmentally­friendly power train and thoughtful everyday utility, to create a vehicle that will change the way consumers and especially younger car buyers think about compact crossover vehicles. Beneath its sensational exterior, the ix­onic’s power train is equipped with a 175 hp, 1.6­litre GDi turbocharged, four­ cylinder petrol engine, with ISG (Idle Stop & Go) technology and a double­clutch six­speed transmission. Power is transferred to the road by an intelligent four­wheel­drive system fine­tuned to deliver outstanding on­road driving dynamics, together with significant off­road ability. The next­generation, eco­friendly engine emits just 149 g/km of CO2, an impressive figure for an SUV. Hyundai’s design team in Russelsheim, Germany, views ix­onic as an ‘urban nomad, a car of contrasts for a world of contrasts’. Created in Europe, with European consumers in mind, the new concept is inspired by the characteristics of multi­cultural cities like Berlin, Paris and Shanghai. The rear window has been designed and produced by Hyundai in close cooperation with the QarmaQ­ partner SABIC Innovative Plastics. Using Lexan high­performance plastics instead of conventional glass enabled the designers to give the rear window a much more three­dimensional shape. On each side of the rear window two vertical spoilers are integrated to reduce aerodynamic drag. Blue Drive Zone The special Blue DriveTM Zone at the Hyundai stand will introduce the company's Blue DriveTM eco­initiative to China. The Blue DriveTM line­up will include, among others, the groundbreaking Elantra LPI Hybrid. It's the first hybrid electric vehicle in the world to be powered by Liquid Petroleum Gas and the first to use advanced Lithium Ion Polymer batteries. Two other examples of Hyundai's Hybrid Blue DriveTM will be exhibited: the hybrid chassis architecture for the next generation Sonata codenamed YF, which will be a hard­hybrid capable of propelling the vehicle in pure electric mode, and the Santa Fe Blue DriveTM Hybrid Electric Vehicle. The Blue DriveTM vision: To produce the world’s cleanest and most fuel efficient vehicles. The Blue DriveTM goals: To contribute further to a model of global sustainable mobility To deliver world­best products which address consumer demand for efficiency and affordability To strengthen Hyundai’s reputation for technological innovation Hyundai Motor Company has always taken a proactive approach to fulfilling its responsibility to the environment, making long­term commitments to the development of eco­friendly technologies. As a result, significant steps have been made in reducing the environmental impact of Hyundai vehicles, thanks in particular to reductions in CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. Looking forward, Hyundai has a clear vision for the years ahead: to produce the world’s cleanest and most fuel­efficient vehicles. The products which will enable Hyundai to fulfill this vision will take shape under the company’s new eco­initiative, known as Blue DriveTM . More than just a sub­brand, Blue DriveTM is an all­encompassing banner which defines Hyundai’s product development strategy. As the company strives to minimize the environmental impact of its vehicles, a broad range of new technologies will be introduced on current and future Hyundai models with the aim of achieving a harmonious balance between cars and the environment. Engineering programs will encompass research into hybrid powertrains, aerodynamics, engine efficiency measures, flex­fuel applications, cleaner diesel units and even fuel­cell electric vehicles. The resulting vehicles will be sold in countries where Hyundai has a significant presence, starting in 2009 with new derivatives for Europe and Korea. In keeping with the brand’s reputation for high quality and high value, Hyundai is keen to ensure that these innovations are available to as wide a cross­section of customers as possible. The models will, therefore, be brought to market at an affordable price, ‘democratizing’ the technologies and enabling everyone to buy into eco­friendly motoring. First fruits to hit the road in 2009 In the second quarter of 2009 Hyundai will bring to market i30 blue – the first of its models to be offered with an Integrated Stop and Go (ISG) system, and the first to be launched under the Blue DriveTM standard. Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2009, the i30 blue achieves a significant seven per cent reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared to the ‘standard’ i30, improving efficiency in heavily­congested driving situations. The i30 blue is manufactured at the company’s new European production facility at Nošovice in the Czech Republic. In the summer Hyundai will introduce its first production hybrid vehicle: the Elantra Hybrid. To be marketed in Korea, this innovative new model will combine liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and electric power – a world­first in automotive hybrid development. Another pioneering achievement is the application of a lithium polymer battery in the Elantra Hybrid. This places Hyundai ahead of its competitors, who rely on older battery formats such as nickel metal hydride and lithium ion, and further demonstrates the company’s global leadership in eco­technology. The hybrid program will move on again in 2010, when the all­new replacement for the Sonata D­segment saloon is introduced. Among the powertrain options will be a petrol­electric hybrid, using Hyundai’s proprietary hybrid architecture. Unlike the Elantra Hybrid, this will be capable of running in electric­only mode and it will be sold in Korea, the United States and other selected markets.