Hyundai i30 Diesel is Australian Car of the Year

an overall points basis, receiving 94 out of a possible 99 points. The judges assessed the cars against 10 criteria, before ranking the finalists from 1-11 (1 being the best) to determine the winning Car of the Year 2007.

The i30 which was only launched in Australia last month is designed to excite the senses. Styled in Germany, manufactured in Korea and optimised around Australia´s unique driving conditions the i30 represents a new face for Hyundai in Australia.

Hyundai i30 stand-out features include:

- Savvy European design - sleek and clean exterior, distinctive new front `face´, curvaceous side line, rising beltline and integrated rear styling
- A choice of latest generation petrol and turbo-Diesel engines, the latter providing hybrid levels of fuel economy affordable to all Australians.
- Suspension and steering dynamics specifically calibrated to appeal to the sportier mindset of today´s - Australian hatchback drivers.
- Advanced safety equipment made affordable, including side and curtain airbags, Electronic Stability Program, `anti-whiplash´ headrests and seat belt reminders.
- Clean, functional and well-organised interior - built with the driver´s comfort and convenience in mind. Design highlights include flexible, space-efficient seating, blue instrument illumination, high quality finishes and a cool air-conditioned glovebox.
- Full iPod®/USB-compatible audio as standard, which allows the driver to operate an iPod® and other MP3 players through the i30´s dash and steering wheel audio controls.

"The new i30 is a reflection of Hyundai´s world-class design capabilities with its inspired European styling, innovative iPod®/USB-compatible audio and outstandingly frugal turbo-Diesel engine. The i30 offers a suite of intelligent safety features and Australian-optimised suspension and steering, together with the class-leading quality and reliability for which Hyundai is increasingly recognised," said Mr McCann

The Daily Telegraph motoring editor, Kevin Hepworth, says the strength of the result - the i30 scored 94 points out of a possible 99 - would not have been anticipated at the start of judging.

``I don't think there was any who doubted that the i30 deserved its place in the final field, what was most surprising was how impressive the car was when it came down to testing in each of the criterion.

``Quite simply, it impressed more of the judges in more areas than any other car at the finals.''

Nine motoring editors and senior motoring writers from The Daily Telegraph (Sydney), The Herald-Sun (Melbourne), The Courier-Mail (Brisbane), The Adelaide Advertiser, Hobart Mercury and Perth Sunday Times first voted to arrive at a list of finalists and then spent three days putting the cars through a gruelling testing program.

Good-looking, comfortable, well-trimmed and very well made, the i30 CRDi proved to be one of the biggest new car surprise packages of the year.

The Herald-Sun's Paul Gover says: ``Hyundai has made the final breakthrough to finally kill its cheap-and-cheerful approach to car making'', while The Sunday Telegraph's Paul Pottinger issued this warning: ``Europe and Japan beware - the Korean car has come of age''.

Mark Hinchliffe of Brisbane's Courier-Mail echoed the opinion of many of the judges with: ``The i30 should change Australians' minds once and for all about the quality, versatility and driveability of Korean cars and small turbodiesel engines''.

Final Rankings

1. Hyundai i30 CRDi (94pts)
2. VW Golf GT TSi (86pts)
3. Mazda2 Maxx (75pts)
4. Mitsubishi Lancer VR (71pts)
5. Mercedes-Benz C280 (66pts)
6. Holden Ute SV6 (56pts)
7. Ford Mondeo Zetec (37pts)
8. Subaru Impreza RS (32pts)
9. BMW X5 3.0d (31pts)
10. BMW 335i sedan (25pts)
11. Volvo C30 T5 (21pts).

Date : 23 Nov 2007 08:42:37 Source: Hyundai

Date : 23 Nov 2007 08:42:37
Source: Hyundai