The Hyundai i40 has received the prestigious Golden Award at this year’s EuroCarBody Conference, held near Frankfurt, Germany, beating nine of Europe’s & Japan’s largest automakers to the prize.
Hyundai collected the top prize – considered the highest accolade in the industry –having never previously entered the contest.
Hosted by Automotive Circle International – an organization consisting of top automotive suppliers and manufacturers – the EuroCarBody awards were judged by over 500 attending delegates, including industry experts from across the world.
The judges praised the comprehensive engineering and effective development of materials, as well as the production efficiency of the i40 which scored 37.98 out of a maximum 50 points. The closest competitor and second-placed car, the Audi A6, scored 35.86, with the Mercedes B-Class in third place achieving 34.66, giving Hyundai a clear victory.
Hyundai’s use of high-strength steel and improved joints in the structure mean that the i40’s lightweight body has high energy absorption efficiency which provides increased safety to occupants in the event of an accident – characteristics recognised by the judging panel.
The competitors in the contest came from Audi, BMW, Ford, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Opel, Land Rover and Volkswagen.
Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and COO of Hyundai Motor Europe, commented, “Winning the EuroCarBody Golden Awarddemonstrates our commitment to providing the highest levels of safety for Hyundai customers. The i40 was recently awarded a maximum five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test, and this latest award is further independent evidence that our technology is market-leading. We will continue our efforts for ever-better technology to protect passengers and improve all aspects of vehicle performance.”
Available in Estate and – from next year – Saloon body styles, the all-new i40 was designed and engineered in Europe, specifically for the European market. Hyundai’s comprehensive Five Year Triple Care package provides European i40 buyers with the ultimate peace of mind, comprising a five-year unlimited warranty, five years’ roadside assistance, and five years of vehicle health checks.
Recently i40 was rated in the lowest insurance grouping for a D-segment car in the UK, thanks to its innovative body structure.
