There will be a bank - Hyundai i40
Dear father, dear mother - in the first words of my letter, I would like to cordially greet you from Europe, where you sent me to study local customs and win the hearts of local drivers. I am very comfortable here, but I do not know if I can cope with the task that you have set for me.
The fact that I certainly stand out on the road from other brands gives me no reason to be completely satisfied. It is known that my exotic appearance works to my advantage, but Europeans do not buy cars with their eyes. Cars with Asian roots are expected to do more than just looks - they need reliability above all else. Ease of travel, safe handling and an attractive price in line. The only exception is Alfa Romeo, which is bought with the heart, not the mind.
It is not easy for foreigners in Rüsselsheim, where I live today. As you know, Opel is headquartered here, and the Germans are famous automotive patriots, which further complicates my mission. As Hyundai's flagship model, I automatically became a brand ambassador for Europe, and now I have a hard job to do, because it's not easy to convince potential D-segment buyers that they should choose me. I remember the instructions you gave me: “Focus, son, on fleet customers, but at the same time, don't forget private users. Strive to maintain a 50/50 ratio among buyers, and then a much larger circle of people will see the positive changes from Hyundai and change the perception of our brand.” No wonder you - the station wagon - were the first to send to conquer Europe, because this variation of the body accounted for 54% of sales of cars from segment D last year. In the meantime, I want to share with you the opinion that I heard from the drivers who contacted me.
Virtually everyone claims that my sporty design of a 4,7-meter car does not negatively affect interior comfort, interior practicality, or cargo capacity. The long wheelbase (2770 mm) and the overall width (1815 mm) made it possible to provide a lot of space in the cabin. Some even say it offers best-in-class front seat space. I have not looked through the windshield at my colleagues from the competition, but I can believe it. My rear seats are also pampering travelers - no one nests here, and the ability to adjust the backrest angle (26 or 31 degrees) means that passengers are not doomed to the whims of designers and can adapt the place of travel to their needs. own needs. The leather upholstery is pleasant to the touch, and the heated and ventilated front seats have received a lot of positive feedback. True, there were those who were dissatisfied, complaining about poor lateral support, but he was not yet born to please everyone. However, all claims converged on one thing - no one expected from me such a roomy (553/1719 liters) and easy to load (floor level 592 mm from the ground) trunk, and double roof rails to hold loaded luggage would not hurt. be desired by everyone in their cars.
The testers were wondering what the 5-Year Triple Care sticker on my windshield meant. If I could speak with a human voice, I would explain to them that every new Hyundai owner gets 5 years of triple protection for their car. Triple protection means nothing more than a full vehicle warranty (unlimited mileage), assistance and 5 years of free technical inspection. I already know why Martin Winterkorn, head of VW at the Frankfurt Fair, saw my little brother i30 in person - he probably wanted to see with his own eyes if we were getting such a long growth guarantee. I don't know how I will feel in five years, but the German agency DAT predicts that thanks to such favorable warranty conditions, my value after 3 years of use will remain at 44,5% of the original price.
As I mentioned earlier, European buyers care about how a car drives. In my case, opinions are divided, but most say that the VW Passat is closer to me than the Ford Mondeo. I know for myself that my suspension is unlikely to drive you crazy in tight corners. The electric power steering is partly to blame for this - in the city, with its ease of control, I am perfect, but on the highway I lack accuracy. However, my designers could not do without the idea of good soundproofing of the cabin - everyone praised me in unison for the silence inside. Even the sharp growl of my not very powerful, but very economical engine of one hundred and sixty-six horsepower did not bother anyone. Oh yes - you overdid it with this engine. A D-segment car with such lofty ambition deserves a big-fronted diesel powertrain because the automatic transmission I'm equipped with eats away at some of my potential.
Gradually I come to the conclusion that there is something of yin-yang in me. Do you want examples? Here you are. I have very good xenon torsion headlights, why not bi-xenon? I have a great audio system, but why does the navigation screen have to be so bright at night? I have an economical engine, why not more powerful? I am an interesting alternative to D segment cars, but why is my price not convincing to the end? These questions confuse me, but I look to the future with confidence and hope. The outlook is bright because, after all, most testers have a good opinion of me. The quality and technology advances I represent represent a lot of potential that I don't intend to waste, for now I'm back at work and looking forward to the arrival of my sedan brother. Stay healthy and don't worry about me.
Your i40
