This is Hyundai’s all-new i40 sedan and it was unwrapped today at the 2011 Barcelona Motor Show. It follows the presentation of the i40 station wagon showcased at the 2011 Geneva Salon in March, and it’s Hyundai’s submission in the highly competitive D-segment in Europe with rivals such as the Citroen C5 and the Volkswagen Passat.

In terms of design, Hyundai’s newcomer may look very similar to the latest Elantra sold in North America and other parts of the world. However, measuring 4.74 meters (186.6-in.) in length, the i40 approximately 380 mm or 15-inches longer than the compact sedan. Europe’s equivalent of the Sonata rides on a wheelbase of 2.77-meters, with Hyundai claiming it offers best-in-class room for front head, shoulder and leg. The Korean carmaker also boasts that the i40 will provide passengers with “the most comfortable ride available in the D-segment”.

In Europe, the i40 sedan will be available with four Euro V-compliant engines, two petrol and two diesel units. Hyundai says the most popular choice should be the 1.7-liter diesel unit developing 136 horsepower.

The i40 also receives an all-new 2.0-liter gasoline engine with direct injection, called “Nu”. The four-cylinder unit delivers 177 horsepower and 213 Nm (157 lb-ft) of torque. In combination with a six-speed manual gearbox, this engine accelerates the i40 sedan to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 9.7 seconds while achieving a fuel consumption of 6.8 liters/100 km (34.5 mpg US) and a CO2 rating of 159 g/km.

The most fuel-efficient version is the 115HP 1.7-liter diesel with Blue Drive technology that includes a start/stop system, low rolling-resistance tires and an alternator management system. This model posts a fuel economy rating of 4.3 liters/100 km (54.7 mpg US) and a CO2 rating of 113 g/km.

The i40 is offered with many amenities including a smart-parking assist and lane departure warning systems, as well as Bluetooth with voice recognition, navigation system and rear view camera. Convenience features include ventilated and heated front seats, heated steering wheel, electric parking brake and an auto-defog system. Hyundai didn’t say which of these are offered as standard.

The car will go on sale across Europe during the last quarter of 2011 and will be offered with five years of unlimited warranty, roadside assistance and vehicle health checks.

Hyundai said it expects sales of around 60,000 units a year, with the company aiming for a 3 percent market share in Europe by the end of 2011.

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