The new generation i30 comes with a choice of two very advanced engines and transmissions that deliver more power, but consume less fuel and produce fewer emissions than before. They are applied in a rigid, well-designed and engineered chassis that makes the i30 a very rewarding car to drive.
The two petrol engines offered under the sleek and aerodynamic skin of the new generation i30 are quiet, smooth and refined. It tells the story of the enormous strides that Hyundai is making in powertrain engineering.
Hyundai i30: The 1.8 Nu MPI engine
The 1.8-litre Nu Multipoint Fuel-Injected (MPI) four-cylinder petrol engine is capable of up to 110 kW at 6 500 r/min. while producing 178 Nm peak torque at 4 700 r/min. when pushed to the limit.
The Nu engine has an aluminium block with a cast iron cylinder liner, cylinder head and crank. This unique configuration results in a block that is 30% lighter than an iron block – shedding 33,6 kg off the entire engine weight – while still providing comparable strength.
The 1,8-litre Nu uses Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) camshafts and hydraulic engine mounts for optimum power, efficiency and refinement.
In the valve train, roller swing arms and Hydraulic Lash Adjusters (HLA) reduce valve driven friction to improve fuel economy by 1% compared with direct valve driving. The Nu engine also features a maintenance-free silent timing chain system to enhance durability and to reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).
A plastic two-stage Variable Induction System (VIS) enables switching between long and short intake manifolds, resulting in increased performance across the board. These innovations result in a 4% improvement in performance, a 15% reduction in cost and 30% reduction in weight, when compared with aluminium.
The Nu four-cylinder engine also has an offset crankshaft design that reduces friction between the piston and cylinder wall for a 1% improvement in fuel economy.
Hyundai i30: The Gamma 1.6 MPI D-CVVT engine
Lightweight thanks to its all-aluminium structure, the 1,6 litre Gamma MPI four-cylinder engine is equipped with Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (D-CVVT) to boost power output to 95 kW at 6 300 r/min. and allow lower exhaust emissions while delivering class-leading fuel economy. Peak torque delivery is 157 Nm at 4 850 r/min.
Using Continuously Variable Valve Timing on both camshafts in the 1.6 MPI has several advantages when compared with using CVVT just on the intake camshaft. Those include a 2% improvement in performance (increased volumetric efficiency), 2% improvement in fuel economy (reduced pumping loss) and a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions.
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Average fuel consumption of i30 engines |
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1.6 Gamma MPI D-CVVT |
1.8 Nu MPI |
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6-speed manual |
6-speed auto |
6-speed manual |
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6,4 litres/100 km |
6,8 litres/100 km |
6,5 litres/100 km |
The Gamma 1.6 engine has a Mechanical Lash Adjuster (MLA) that improves fuel efficiency by reducing the valve spring load. It also reduces friction and noisy valve clatter. The intake/exhaust manifold system improves engine performance with the application of a novel structural design, reducing chronic problems and enhancing durability.
Hyundai i30: Six-speed transmissions
In its quest to achieve powertrain excellence, Hyundai has combined the powerful engines in the i30 range to a pair of highly advanced manual and automatic transmissions for efficient, sporty driving, yet achieving outstanding fuel economy.
The short stroke of the six-speed manual transmission, offered in the i30 1.6 and 1.8, provides faster and more accurate shifting in a small, lightweight gearbox.
The automatic transmission available in the i30 1.6 is part of Hyundai’s new generation of transmissions. It is compact, contains fewer parts and weighs less than its predecessors. This highly durable modern “manumatic” gearbox, which offers manual shifting when required, delivers a sporty drive with the convenience of refined automatic gear shifting.
Hyundai i30: Ride & handling
The optimised suspension and enhanced steering components of the new generation i30 ensures a very stable ride with the expected comfort of a car in its class.
The i30’s suspension consists of MacPherson struts in front, with six-point mounting for improved handling, and a coupled torsion beam axle with coil springs and shock absorbers at the rear. The coupled torsion beam axle rear suspension is simple in design and functioning, but light in weight and effective to deliver a smooth, comfortable ride and excellent stability.
The suspension components have been tweaked by Hyundai’s engineers to present a balanced, stable and firm, yet comfortable ride that instils great confidence in the i30’s composure on the road. The rigid chassis of the i30 is another key factor in its satisfying, sporty ride and handling.
The Motor Drive Power Steering (MDPS) has been chosen to eliminate the use of hydraulics of a conventional power steering system. One of the benefits is that the steering can deliver varying degrees of power assistance. The MDPS can adapt itself to driving situations such as city driving and parking in tight spots, or faster driving through sweeping curves on the open road where accurate feedback from the wheels to the steering wheel is critical. The other benefit of the MDPS is that it helps save fuel.
Flex-steer is offered as standard equipment on the i30 and gives the driver an option to choose between Comfort, Normal or Sport steering mode. Comfort is ideal for city driving, while Normal would suit regular steering conditions. For highway driving and a more rigid steering with the required feedback and control associated with sporty driving, the Sport mode can be chosen. The changes can be made via a button on the steering wheel, with the chosen mode displayed on the instrument cluster in front of the driver.
Levels of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) have also been lowered substantially on the new i30 through the use of new technology and subtle design innovations to reduce wind noise. A new roll mount with a detached mounting and support structure has lowered the NVH levels during idling, and hollow driveshafts helps to ensure a quieter drive at low as well as high cruising speeds.
