Hyundai�s i30 Tops the Greenfleet Class in Australia�s Prestigious World Solar Challenge

Complex, expensive hybrid technology has met its match: Clean diesel. The convincing proof came in last month�s Panasonic World Solar Challenge race held in Australia where the all-new Hyundai (http://worldwide.hyundai-motor.com/index.html) i30 1.6 CRDi turbodiesel trumped an array of diesel and hybrid rivals to top the fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emission stakes.

Competing in the Greenfleet Technology Class, the i30 CRDi consumed just 3.2 litres of fuel per 100km and emitted just 97g of CO2 per kilometer traveled over the 3,000km journey from Darwin to Adelaide-outperforming not just Toyota�s Prius hybrid but also the diesels of Audi, Peugeot and even a BioBike.

"The i30 is a practical and affordable alternative to expensive and complex hybrid cars. It delivers better fuel efficiency and significantly reduced CO2 emissions," said Dr. Hyun-Soon Lee, President of Hyundai-Kia Research and Development Division.

By comparison, the Leaseplan Toyota Prius consumed 5.6 litres per 100km and emitted 146g of CO2 per kilometer. The Peugeot 207 HDi consumed 3.9 litres per 100km and emitted 118g of CO2 per kilometer. Meanwhile, Team Ethanol Saab BioPower (85 percent ethanol and unleaded gas) consumed 9.3 litres per 100km and emitted 148g of CO2 per kilometer.

Wayne Eckersley-an ex-F1 mechanic to World Champion Alan Jones-and his Hyundai teammate John Cadogan drove the i30 during the seven-day trip which included stops in Alice Springs and other regional and outback centers.

Designed at Hyundai�s Russelsheim Design Center, the i30 is targeted to meet the needs and tastes of European car buyers. The i30 is equipped with an advanced 1.6-litre diesel using a common rail injection system. The CRDi engine is fitted with a turbocharger featuring variable vane geometry for optimal air intake at any engine speed. Also, the i30 adopts an electrically assisted steering system which conserves fuel and avoids the parasitic energy loss of a conventional hydraulically-assisted steering system.

Hyundai spends nearly US$6 billion annually on research and development. A substantial percentage of the total budget is devoted to eco-friendly technologies such as clean diesels, hybrid electric vehicle development and fuel cell electric vehicles.

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Esther Park

HMC Public Relations 1

Office: +82-2-3464-2117

Fax: +82-2-3464-3457

E-Mail: esther_kr(at)hyundai-motor.com

Hyundai�s i30 Tops the Greenfleet Class in Australia�s Prestigious World Solar Challenge

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Hyundai�s i30 Tops the Greenfleet Class in Australia�s Prestigious World Solar Challenge

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