Hyundai tweaks iLoad, iMax diesels
BY MIKE COSTELLO | 22nd Aug 2012
27/08/2012HYUNDAI Australia has announced engine and transmission updates to turbo-diesel versions of its top-selling iLoad van and iMax people-mover range.
As first reported by GoAuto last week, the changes bring fuel economy improvements across the board, at the expense of substantially reduced power and torque figures for manual versions.
On the other hand, five-speed automatic variants receive a substantial hike in torque output.
Pricing is unchanged across the range.
Headlining the changes is a new, Hyundai-developed six-speed manual gearbox in place of the old five-speed unit, improving official fuel economy by 0.5 litres per 100km to 8.0L/100km (or 8.1 on the heavier iMax).
This comes at a cost, however, with the company ditching the variable-geometry turbocharger from the engine, resulting in substantially lower power and torque outputs than before.
The new engine and manual gearbox combination produces 100kW and 343Nm, down from 125kW/392Nm, although the new model hits its peak torque earlier, arriving from a low 1500rpm.
Perversely, five-speed automatic versions of the iLoad diesel will get a substantial hike in torque output, with the engine retaining the variable-geometry turbocharger but now producing figures of 125kW and 441Nm (up from 125kW/392Nm).
The trade-off is a narrower peak torque band, with the maximum available between 2000 and 2250rpm instead of 2000 and 2500rpm.
Despite the beefy boost, claimed combined fuel consumption has dropped even further than the manual, with the automatic iLoad now returning 8.8L/100km (down from 9.6L/100km) and the iMax 9.0L/100km (previously 9.8L/100km).
Cheaper petrol-powered versions of both models, which feature a 129kW/228Nm 2.4-litre engine, are unchanged.
The rear-drive iLoad range is the biggest selling van model in Australia this year, with 3948 sales to the end of July placing it narrowly ahead of the Toyota HiAce (3717 sales).
The iMax eight-seater is the second biggest-selling vehicle in the people-mover segment to the end of July this year with 1150 sales, trailing behind the Carnival produced by sister company Kia (2097).
| Hyundai iLoad and iMax pricing (plus on-roads): | |
| iLoad 3-seat Liftback Van | |
| 2.4L petrol | $29,990 |
| 2.5L CRDi diesel | $34,490 |
| 2.5L CRDi diesel (a) | $36,990 |
| iLoad 6-seat Liftback Crew Van | |
| 2.4L petrol | $31,990 |
| 2.5L CRDi diesel | $36,490 |
| 2.5L CRDi diesel (a) | $38,990 |
| iMax | |
| 2.4L petrol (a) | $37,290 |
| 2.5L CRDi diesel | $39,990 |
| 2.5L CRDi diesel (a) | $42,490 |
