29 Sep 06 11:57
The Arnejs concept car previews Hyundai's all-new C-sector small family car, which will effectively replace both the Accent and the Elantra ranges in the UK at the end of next year. This model, codenamed "FD", has been specifically developed for Europe at Hyundai-Kia's engineering centre in Russelsheim, Germany, and Hyundai engineers promise that it will be properly competitive against class-leaders such as the Golf, Focus and Astra; as well as having much better overall quality than its predecessors, it's "surprisingly sporty", we've been told.
An engineer from the Russelsheim centre confirmed that the car will share much of its underpinnings with the Kia Cee'd ("ED"). But whereas the Kia was largely the work of a Korean team, then 'Europeanised' at Russelsheim, the design of the Hyundai has been created from scratch alongside the engineering development. The team working on the car has been European, with members recruited from companies including Opel, Mercedes, Audi, Volkswagen, Smart and Saab, and it was been given a free rein: "The Koreans are completely open to listening", the engineer told us. "They are not limiting what we can do in any way. And as it's a new project, it's a young team, very lively and creative."
Although the Arnejs and Cee'd are mechanically and structurally similar, they will have variations in, for example, suspension tuning, a different image and market positioning. Underlining this, they will actually be built at two different factories - the Kia in Slovakia and the Hyundai in the Czech Republic.
Engines for the line-up are thought to be similar to those already in the Hyundai-Kia range: 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrols, with 1.5 and 2.0 diesels, but updated and refined for greater economy, quietness, performance and reduced emissions.
Production starts in summer 2007, though right-hand drive models may not come to the UK till early 2008. Hatchback versions will initially be available, but an estate, a crossover-SUV-type model, a compact MPV and a coupe-cabriolet are expected to follow.
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