• New specification Hyundai i20 WRC launched at Geneva marks another important step in team development schedule
• Latest spec includes upgrades to aerodynamics, chassis and suspension to improve cooling, enhance suspension kinematics and chassis stiffness
• Development of Alzenau facility is proceeding rapidly and to plan with focus on key staff recruitment
• Private testing of i20 will begin later in the year at various locations in Europe

Geneva, 5 March 2013

Hyundai Motorsport GmbH has taken another significant step towards its forthcoming participation in the FIA World Rally Championship with the unveiling of its latest specification i20 WRC car at the Geneva Motor Show today.

Hyundai is gearing up for its debut season in the challenging FIA World Rally Championship in 2014 with a year of private testing and development as it progresses towards a competition-ready WRC-specification of its i20 model. A first iteration of the car made its debut at the Paris Motor Show back in September but this latest model incorporates notable updates to the exterior bodywork and suspension. The upgrades are the result of collaborative work between Hyundai’s R&D facility in Namyang, Korea and the newly formed Hyundai Motorsport GmbH in Alzenau, Germany, headed up by veteran WRC man Michel Nandan.

The new specification Hyundai i20 WRC also reveals a striking look thanks to a redesigned livery which blends a dynamic treatment of Hyundai’s corporate blue together with an innovative use of characters from the native Korean script, Hunminjeongeum. The livery matches the excitement and dynamism of WRC with the Korean heritage of the Hyundai brand.

In the two months since his appointment, Team Principal Michel Nandan has focused on establishing the core Hyundai WRC team at the bespoke facility in Alzenau with key technical, logistics and motorsport specialists joining the new manufacturer team. The team will soon be embarking on a more intensive test programme with the i20 WRC to ramp up development of the car ahead of its maiden season.

Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal, Michel Nandan commented: “We are still in the infancy of our exciting WRC programme so the development curve for the car and team is steep. This latest version of the i20 WRC have centred on aerodynamics with the objective of improving the car’s cooling systems. A new rear wing and front spoiler give the i20 WRC a new external appearance while, under the bodywork, improvements have also been made to the suspension kinematics and chassis stiffness as we gear up for a more structured test programme later in the year. We have lots of important foundations to lay both with the car and the team at Alzenau.

“Building up a new motorsport facility from scratch is an ambitious and rewarding challenge. We have begun the recruitment process but already have a number of key people in place who bring with them a wealth of rally and motorsport experience. We are rapidly building up the team infrastructure and are pleased that everything is running to schedule.

“Hyundai has returned to the World Rally stage to demonstrate its technical capabilities on one of the world’s most competitive stages. Our ultimate goal is to be victorious but we know that we have a lot of tough competition ahead of us. We will use this year to lay the solid foundations but hope to advance quickly as 2014 approaches.”

• Up to 1.000 units of hydrogen-powered model to be produced by 2015
• Deliveries to municipal and private fleets underway
• Winner of prestigious FuturAuto 2013 award for technical innovation

Offenbach, 5 March 2013

Production of the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell began at the company's Ulsan manufacturing plant in Korea in January 2013, making Hyundai the first automaker to begin commercial production of a hydrogen-powered vehicle. The first complete car rolled off the assembly line on 26 February 2013.

Hyundai plans to manufacture 1.000 units of the hydrogen-powered ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles by 2015, targeted predominantly at public sector and private fleets, with limited mass production of 10.000 units beyond 2015.

Hyundai has already signed contracts to lease the ix35 Fuel Cell to municipal fleets in Copenhagen, Denmark and Skåne, Sweden. Additionally, since October 2011, the EU Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) in Brussels has been providing Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles to EU policy makers and the public in order to demonstrate the market readiness of fuel cell technology.

Award-winning credentials
At the 2013 European Motor Show in Brussels, Belgium, the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell was awarded the prestigious FuturAuto accolade, selected as winner for becoming the first mass-produced, hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle to be commercially available.

The award, in its 12th year, celebrates technological innovation in the automotive industry and is judged by a respected panel of journalists from the Belgian Automotive Press Union (UJBA).

From a long list of 16 candidates, the judges selected a five-strong shortlist which included innovations from Hyundai, Bosch, Mazda, Mercedes Benz and Volvo.

Third-generation FCEV from Hyundai
The Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell is the third-generation fuel cell-powered electric vehicle (FCEV) from Hyundai. Since Hyundai introduced the Santa Fe FCEV in 2000, the company has become a world leader in the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology, and operates the largest fuel-cell research centre in Korea.

In 2005, the second-generation Hyundai fuel cell electric vehicle – the Tucson FCEV – was introduced, powered by the company's first 80 kW (109 hp) fuel cell.

The third generation of Hyundai's FCEV family, the ix35 Fuel Cell represents a truly viable everyday vehicle, retaining the safety, equipment, convenience and performance of the conventionally powered ix35 and producing zero harmful tailpipe emissions.

The Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell delivers large improvements over its predecessor, including a driving range that has been extended by more than 50% and fuel efficiency gains of more than 15%.

The ix35 Fuel Cell is equipped with a 100 kW (136 hp) electric motor, allowing it to reach a maximum speed of 160 km/h. Two hydrogen storage tanks, with a total capacity of 5,64 kg, enable the vehicle to travel a total of 594 km on a single charge, and it can reliably start in temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius. The energy is stored in a 24 kW lithium-ion polymer battery, jointly developed with LG Chemical.

Fuel cells operate by turning chemical energy from hydrogen into electromechanical energy. Internal to a fuel cell, an anode and cathode sandwich a polymer electrolyte membrane. The process of creating an electrical current occurs in three stages:

• Hydrogen gas flows over the anode, causing it to split into hydrogen ions (protons) and electrons.
• The polymer electrolyte membrane only allows the protons to pass through. The electrons travel to an external circuit which operate the motor.
• At the cathode, electrons and protons react with oxygen (from air) creating H₂O – water – which flows out of the cell as the only waste product.

Hyundai's ix35 Fuel Cell represents one of the most advanced vehicles of this type, and with continued development and improvements in production costs, it is expected that limited mass production will enable sales to much greater numbers of customers around the world to start beyond 2015.

Hyundai's hydrogen initiatives
Hyundai has been involved in a wide range of initiatives and partnerships to help promote hydrogen fuel cells as a future solution to Europe's transport requirements. With governments, non-profit organisations and private ventures all looking to the alternative modes of transport, Hyundai is supporting the momentum surrounding FCEVs across the region.

In May 2011, Hyundai signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the City of Copenhagen, fuel cell producer H2 Logic and Hydrogen Link – the latter an association working to advance the use of electricity for transportation in Denmark based on hydrogen and fuel cells.

The aim of the agreement is to establish an infrastructure for the support of FCEVs in Copenhagen, a city which aims to be carbon neutral by 2025. Under the MOU, Hyundai provided two ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles for a test drive attended by mayors of the capital cities of Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland in 2011.

In October 2011, Hyundai invited Europe's top media to test its ix35 Fuel Cell in Copenhagen, and, in doing so, took another significant step towards its goal of bringing FCEVs to the mainstream car market by 2015.

The Copenhagen test drive followed the news that the ix35 Fuel Cell had been selected by the European Commission-backed 'Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking' (FCH JU) to be used as a demonstration vehicle to test and promote hydrogen fuel cell technology in a real-world environment. As part of the initiative, the ix35 Fuel Cell was made available for Members of the European Parliament, Commissioners, EU officials and other policy makers to test drive. This gained great visibility for the ix35 Fuel Cell and hydrogen vehicle technology among policy makers.

In January 2012, Hyundai signed a memorandum of understanding along with twelve other industry participants to launch a scheme called UKH2Mobility. This draws on the experience of other hydrogen initiatives from across Europe to investigate the potential for hydrogen as a fuel for ultra-low carbon vehicles. Calling on £400 million (approximately €475 million) of funding from the UK government, the results of the scheme will lead to further steps to introduce hydrogen as a more mainstream fuel in the UK.

A February 2013 study published by UKH2Mobility forecast that, with suitable infrastructure investment, more than 1,5 million hydrogen-powered vehicles could be on the roads by 2030 in the UK alone.

The company's vision and strategy has earned it recognition as one of the 'Top Global Green Brands of 2012' in Interbrand's 50 Global Green Brands report. Placed 17th overall, Hyundai was one of the highest-ranked automakers. Interbrand made particular mention of Hyundai's industry leadership in zero-emissions technology through advances in hydrogen fuel-cell development.

Through technological development, as well as the various schemes and initiatives that Hyundai is involved in, the company is demonstrating its commitment to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as an environmentally friendly solution for fulfilling future mobility needs.

Technical specifications
Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell

Powertrain and transmission
Front-mounted induction motor with two mid-mounted hydrogen fuel cell storage tanks.

* Figures stated are manufacturer's estimates

• Fastest ever-selling model in Europe gets greater refinement inside and out
• Powertrains improved and automatic option for diesel version added
• FLEX STEER offers enhanced driving dynamic with three steering modes

Offenbach, 5 March 2013

The New ix35, an upgraded version of Hyundai’s second best-selling car in Europe, has made its debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. The new model boasts a range of technological enhancements, making it an even more appealing proposition to European buyers.

Since the original model’s sales launch in March 2010, ix35 has generated a high level of consumer demand. It became the fastest-selling model in Hyundai’s European history, exceeding all of the company’s expectations. To March 2013, Hyundai has sold more than 220.000 units of the C-segment SUV vehicle in Europe.

A new engine, efficiency upgrades to other powerplants and new equipment add further refinement, enhancing the driving experience.

Efficiency gains
One of the most significant upgrades for the model will be the replacement of the 2,0-litre ‘Theta II’ gasoline engine with a new, super-efficient ‘Nu’ 2,0-litre GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) engine. The new powerplant, developed in-house at Hyundai’s European R&D centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, offers more power and torque, 166 ps and 205 Nm (20,9 kg/m) respectively, yet is Euro5-compliant.

Two strong engines benefit from the fitment of a new low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation (LP EGR) system, yielding significant efficiency gains across the range.

Customer choice has been further expanded by the addition of a six-speed automatic transmission for the ‘R’ 2,0-litre 136 ps 4WD model.

Added tech, better refinement
Buyers of New ix35 can now benefit from Hyundai’s FLEX STEER system, available on the C SUV model for the first time. Three driving modes – normal, comfort and sport – allow the driver to vary the level of steering support and feedback to best suit the environment.

Further enhancements such as a heated steering wheel, front parking sensors and a trailer-towing safety function for the ESC (electronic stability control) allow customers a more refined driving experience. The new optional 4,2-inch TFT Supervision Cluster displays a wide range of information to the driver in high-resolution clarity.

European buyers can also choose an upgraded audio and navigation system, paired with a larger 7-inch LCD centre console display.

For greater illumination when driving in the dark, Hyundai is offering optional Bi Xenon headlamps for the first time on this model, as well as uprated LED with daytime running lights as standard.

The more refined ix35 will also be presented with new alloy wheels. 16 , 17- and 18-inch alloy wheel designs are available, with the latter two offered in a metal grey finish.

Inside the cabin of New ix35, the seats and upper door trims are now finished in higher-quality materials, the dashboard air vents are ringed in chrome, the front cup holders are illuminated and the windscreen receives a shade band, completing the visual refreshment.

Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and COO of Hyundai Motor Europe, commented: “The introduction of the original ix35 was a hugely important moment for Hyundai in Europe. It was the first car to receive Hyundai’s European design language, ‘fluidic sculpture’ and, along with its other attributes such as efficiency, value and great quality, ix35 has sold in large numbers across the region. Last year, its popularity increased further, with 87.000 units sold, 15% more than in 2011.

“The improvements to the New ix35 will deliver real-world benefits and enhance the ownership experience for buyers in Europe. Hyundai has worked really hard to attract new customers to the brand. By delivering products that exceed their expectations – through improved efficiency, driving dynamics and refinement – Hyundai will continue to retain and win over new customers.”

The upgrades to New ix35 were designed and developed at Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre (HME TC) in Rüsselsheim, Germany. The model retains Hyundai’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ form language, introduced on production Hyundai cars in Europe, by the original ix35, which was launched at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

For European markets, New ix35 is manufactured at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech (HMMC), the company’s state-of-the-art European production facility in Nošovice, Czech Republic. Every ix35 sold in Europe comes with Hyundai’s Five Year Triple Care. This award-winning customer assurance package includes a five-year warranty with no mileage limit, five years of roadside assistance and five years of vehicle health checks.

(Seoul, Korea) Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea's largest automaker, reports its domestic and overseas sales results for February 2013.

February 2013 Results

Unit = one vehicle

1. Commercial Vehicles (CV) include buses & trucks.
2. Hyundai Motor currently has seven overseas plants in Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, India, Russia, Turkey and the U.S.

※ Excludes CKD (Complete Knock Down) unit sales.