Hyundai launches i800 full-size van in Europe
Click above for high-res gallery of the Hyundai i800
What, you thought only Ford and GM did the full-size van thing anymore? Say hello to the eight-passenger Hyundai i800, which goes on sale late June in the UK. The i800 sports captain's chairs up front with two three-passenger benches out back. That makes a grand total of eight seat belts thanks to its totally accommodating third-row. Hyundai's big van is powered by a 2.5L four-cylinder CRDi diesel engine, so we expect acceleration is an afterthought in this cavernous cruiser. The i800 does, however, feature a coil-sprung rear suspension for a more minivan-like ride than some of its commercial transport competition. But aside from its features, the i800 is just a good looking van. Its design is more fluid than Chrysler's new boxy minivans and it doesn't look like it belongs in a FedEx fleet (we're looking at you, Ford Econoline). Screw the Entourage, we want this Hyundai hauler in the U.S.
Gallery: Hyundai i800
[Source: Hyundai]
PRESS RELEASE
Hyundai goes one better - a people carrier with room for eight
- All new eight-seater with space for luggage too
- New 170PS, 2.5-litre turbodiesel and rear-wheel-drive
- On sale 20th June priced at £19,495
Unlike most MPVs, which only have room for seven people, the i800 can comfortably accommodate eight. In addition the big Hyundai will still have room for all their luggage. In fact the i800 has 851 litres of space in the boot even when loaded with passengers; that's twice as much as some estate cars!
The Hyundai i800 features a pair seats in front and two benches behind, each accommodating three adults in comfort with uncompromised head and legroom.
Both rear benches feature a 60:40 split-fold and recline while the centre row also slides forwards or backwards to tailor space as required. All of the rear seats are accessed by pair of sliding doors, making access easy wherever the i800 is parked.
Once inside, the ambience is far more car-like than other 'minibus' style rivals, with two-tone interior trim, privacy glass, a six-speaker audio system and ducted air conditioning throughout. Individually-controllable overhead vents in the rear make sure all of the occupants can keep their cool.
It's not just the luxury inside that makes the i800 comfortable. Rather than using the same chassis as a commercial vehicle, the stylish new people carrier has a purpose-made coil sprung rear suspension system with five locating links to ensure optimum ride quality and manoeuvrability. Alloy wheels are also standard.
Bringing power to the people carrier is a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder CRDi diesel engine, which is intercooled and features a variable-geometry turbo. Peak power output is 170PS with a massive 392Nm of torque; enough to ensure that the i800 never feels sluggish even with a full load. Balancer shafts also mean that the engine remains smooth and refined at all times.
Despite the impressive performance, this engine is also capable of remarkable economy with a combined figure of 33.2 mpg. Thanks to a 75 litre tank, it means the i800 driver could go more than 560 miles between fill ups.
When carrying passengers, safety will always be a prime concern. With this in mind the i800's sure-footed rear-wheel-drive handling is backed up by ESP and traction control systems plus dual airbags. In addition, all occupants have three-point seatbelts on offer.
While some drivers might initially feel intimidated by the i800's size – it measures 5,125 mm long, 1,920 wide and 1,925 tall – it is actually surprisingly easy to thread into tight spots thanks to a turning circle of just 5.61m. In addition, electronic reversing sensors are standard.
The i800 will go on sale on 20th June costing £19,495. It will be joined later in the year by a lower power, lower specification version at an even more competitive price.
As with all Hyundai cars, the i800 will be covered by a five year, manufacturer backed, unlimited mileage warranty.
Tony Whitehorn, managing director of Hyundai UK said: "anyone wanting to carry eight people in car-like comfort currently has to take two cars – or spend a lot more than £20,000. We think the i800 will prove massively popular with families and businesses who need to move people in style."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Aprime 8:32PM (5/08/2008)
Oh lord, that'd be pretty sweet competition for the Sprinter (in NA).
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Aprime 8:35PM (5/08/2008)
As a matter of fact I'm pretty sure I'd stop seeing new Ford and GM vans in Canada if these were to show up... I mean, all the fleets are switching to bloody Hino for light duty trucks... Wouldn't suprise me of they'd move out of the domestic market for stuff like this.
Shiftright 8:56PM (5/08/2008)
I think it's cool you can get this thing with a stick. I drove a domestic full size van many years ago as a bakery delivery boy, and it was awful. Mid 70's Dodge Tradesman with a Jurassic 3 speed manual on the 'tree'. Felt like I was rowing a screwdriver in a bucket of large rocks, and the clutch spring wanted to throw your leg out the window.
Torrent 8:59PM (5/08/2008)
This AND the Nissan Elgrande.
Russell 11:53PM (5/08/2008)
Minivans are so cool, NOT.
james F 12:08AM (5/09/2008)
@ shiftright
My friend had a 75 Dodge van with a 3 speed colum shifter. It later broke off, and he had to replace it with a floor shifter.
nagmashot 12:31AM (5/09/2008)
The Sprinter is one or two size class about this .. looks like a VW Bus T5 copy with different headlights..
Ford and GM are not the only full size van Producer
VW Bus T5
Mercedes Vito
pmiddle5 8:51PM (5/08/2008)
If it had decent towing capacity I could want myself one a those bad boys...
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Ian B. 10:24AM (5/09/2008)
It's got 290 ft-lbs of torque. Did we all forget trucks in the 80's had about the same if not less. We're all spoiled.
Level 8:54PM (5/08/2008)
not bad not bad at all...Hyundai has a lot of tricks up it's sleeve...
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SPG 9:02PM (5/08/2008)
The outside reminds me of all the Kia and Mitsubishi vans from the 80's, but more refined.
The interior however, is really quite nice.
I'd take this over an Econoline or a full size GM van (just because of the dash in that case) any day.
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500 9:04PM (5/08/2008)
Hyundai full-size vans are common in the Caribbean; I see them all the time when I vacation in St. Maarten/St. Martin. They are often used as taxis (along with Toyotas.)
To sell in the US though, at least in any significant numbers, it would need a real engine.
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DJ 9:15PM (5/08/2008)
Now just pop that 375HP V8 from the Genesis sedan in this and awaaaay we go......
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ImSteevin 9:31PM (5/08/2008)
Imagine a mix of the Top Gear reviews of the Pacific Rim cars and the vans...
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Tsunami Racer 9:52PM (5/08/2008)
i don't understand why we don't like these RWD vans here in the US. it's all the rage in Japan. the closest thing we had here was the old Aerostar and Astro. Maybe those ruined it for us and now we're dead set with FWD mom sleds. either that or we have to step all the way up to the Econoline Korean Church Bingo van.
i bet if one company took the risk and brought a decent sized, RWD, roomy minvan like the Nissan El Grande and the Toyota Alphard, it would sell pretty good in the US.
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psarhjinian 10:23AM (5/09/2008)
There was also the Toyota Previa, which thoroughly spanked the Aerostar and Astro in livability. It cost a lot more, too.
The reason people went to front-drive fans is pretty easy:
* Packaging: No drivetrain components intrude into the floor. This allows foldaway seats and a very low load floor and step height.
* Fuel economy: Less drivetrain loss and overall mass. Plus, because of the aforementioned packaging advantage, a front-driver can be physically smaller, but contain more useful space.
* Handing: Odd, isn't it? A rear-drive van tends to have a pretty high centre of gravity and, when things go bad with rear-drive, they go bad very quickly and don't recover well. Front-drive just gently understeers at the nose, and the natural reaction of an untrained driver (slow down) is exactly the right behaviour to bring the car back in-line.
Yes, stability control and a modern rear-drive platform can help this, but neither of those things were an option on any rear driver from that period. Heck, in vans today, I can't think of anything rear-drive with that kind of feature set outside of the R-Class.
Front-drive works very well in situations where packaging efficiency is paramount. Much as a Previa with a five speed was cool, the Sienna is a much better choice for the average family, and a lot of that has to do with the advantages of front-drive.
Zerk 10:37PM (5/08/2008)
33 mpg! No red blooded American would be caught dead driving a fuel efficient full size van! Put a 14 mpg V8 in than Hoonday and then, maybe, it would sell a couple in the USA. Better yet, put a 9 mpg V10!
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captainslow 10:39PM (5/08/2008)
What's its 'Ring lap time?
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SprNtrl 11:12PM (5/08/2008)
Three weeks.
Aprime 11:28PM (5/08/2008)
Top Gear begs to differ.