Save on fuel behind the wheel of the Hyundai i40 | Phil Gilbert Hyundai

With its stunning European-inspired styling, both the Hyundai i40 brings unprecedented levels of sophistication and safety to the mid-sized sedan car segment. What Hyundai recognised is that many car buyers steer clear of the medium segment out of concern of fuel economy. The company has addressed that with a suite of state-of-the-art technologies to provide the Hyundai i40 range with fuel economy closer to a compact car than a mid-size sedan.

Aerodynamics

The new i40 is significantly sleeker than previous Hyundai cars, with an improved aerodynamic drag figure (0.29Cd Tourer, 0.28Cd Saloon) – enhancing refinement, performance and fuel economy. With its sweeping front-end design, raked-back windshield and tapered proportioned also reduces noise inside the cabin.

Engines

Available with either Hyundai’s efficient Nu 2.0 GDi 2.0L four-cylinder petrol engine or its breakthrough 1.7 CRDi diesel, the diesel is the clear winner when it comes to fuel economy. While the GDi engine has a higher power rating of 121 kW versus 104 kW for the diesel, the CRDi delivers a great deal more torque, lower in the engine range, at 340 Nm versus 203 Nm in the petrol motor.

The CRDi is a state-of-the modern diesel engine that more precisely controls fuel flow and atomization for more efficient combustion, raising power while lowering pollutants. It features a long stroke of 90 mm versus a bore of 77.2 mm for torque production, a considerable 17:1 compression ratio, common rail direct fuel injection operating at pressures of 1600 bar.

Power is boosted by a Hyundai engineered and manufactured variable geometry turbocharger, a unit more efficient than previous-generation turbochargers. Intake air temperature is reduced after being compressed by the turbocharger via an air-to- air intercooler. Efficiency is further improved with an integral EGR cooler.

Transmission

The six-speed manual transmission is an upgraded gearbox with improved multi-cone synchronization, optimized gear design, reduced weight, enhanced efficiency, reduced power loss, an optimized differential casing and superior durability up to 300,000 km. The manual gearbox is fitted with a ‘high’ sixth gear ratio, to minimize engine revs when cruising at speed, enhancing refinement and cutting fuel consumption. The transmission, which is filled with low-viscosity oil, is maintenance-free and requires no servicing during the life of the vehicle.

Although the six-speed transmission features is a regular torque converter-type automatic, it incorporates a unique flat torque converter, with three planetary gear sets and four pinion differentials – ensuring ultra-fast, smooth and precise gearshifts throughout the engine speed range – and it weighs just 78 kg, only 20 kg more than the manual gearbox, and lighter than many dual-clutch automatics.

Stop and Go

For further efficiency the new powertrain also comes with the Integrated Stop & Go (ISG) system as standard, switching off the engine at a stop, so as to not waste fuel, and then smoothly and immediately restart the engine when the throttle is engaged.

So stop wasting time and petrol and drive over to Phil Gilbert Hyundai and test drive a new Hyundai i40 sedan or tourer and see what it’s like to drive a mid-sized car that delivers small car fuel economy.