Three-Door i30 to Debut at the 2012 Paris Auto Show

[xcel]

A 3-door hatch joins the 5 door and 5-door wagon.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Sept. 14, 2012

2013 Hyundai i30 (Elantra GT here) in 3-door hatch form factor.

Hyundai this evening released details on the world debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show of its New Generation i30 three-door. The three-door joins the five-door hatch and the wagon of Hyundai’s ‘made for Europe’ C-segment for an even wider audience.

Like the i30 5-door and wagon, the 3-door incorporates the very latest interpretation of Hyundai’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ with a deeply raked beltline, more angular glasshouse silhouette, longer front doors , removed rear doors, and a front grille change.

A new, black-finished mesh insert and central bar for the heart of Hyundai’s hexagonal grille, which is flanked by new fog lamp clusters consisting of round spots connected to LED DRL strips. The mesh treatment is continued in the clusters, and the front-end design is completed by a newly-profiled lower bumper.

At the rear, the remodeled lower bumper fascia includes new horizontal, sculpted fog lamps that contrast with the upright units of the five-door. These lights and a new black insert at the bottom of the bumper create the impression of a wider, sportier rear design.

Exclusive 16 in alloys complete the exterior transformation. A new orange color for the interior trim, including orange color stitching on the steering wheel, gear shift knob and door armrest, is available.

Drivers will experience Europe-tuned ride and handling, and can alter the settings of the FLEX STEER system (the GTs Comfort, Normal and Sport) to change steering assistance depending on their preference and road conditions.

The New Generation i30 is offered with a choice of six engines mated to either the 6-speed MT or 6-speed AT vs. the single 1.8L MPFI unit available here. The highlight includes the ‘U-II’ 1.6L turbo diesel providing 126 HP and a fuel economy of almost 62 mpgUS on the NEDC or approximately 49 mpgUS combined on our own EPA.

While 3-door proportions are a bit out of sync vs. the 5-door and wagon, that 1.6L turbo diesel engine makes this one very special

You can compare the i30 3-door to our 5-door GT through the following:

2013 Hyundai Elantra GT


Head on view.


At the Field of Dreams… Notice the more 5-door GT’s balanced proportions as the character line runs
across the rear door and before sweeping down to the rear bumper fascia at the rear taillight lenses?

Oh if we could only have that 1.6L super diesel

[schuylkill]

[The New Generation i30 is offered with a choice of six engines mated to either the 6-speed MT or 6-speed AT vs. the single 1.8L MPFI unit available here. The highlight includes the ‘U-II’ 1.6L turbo diesel providing 126 HP and a fuel economy of almost 62 mpgUS on the NEDC or approximately 49 mpgUS combined on our own EPA.

That is awesome, so many iterations. How is it that economic decisions can yield such varying product differences between US and European markets? What would the cost of the turbo diesel be here, is there a way to get a close number? That car looks like it should be in my driveway. I feel that it can't be simply demand that drives these decisions.