Hyundai Motor Co., Korea’s leading automaker, said Tuesday it released the latest version of its i40 in the local market to meet customer demand for a mid-size sedan.

The i40 Saloon, 4.740 meters long and 1.815 meters wide, features the smoothly sculpted exterior seen on recent Hyundai vehicles.

It comes with a 2.0-liter GDi gasoline engine with a maximum 178 horsepower and has an average fuel mileage of 13.1 kilometers per liter.

There is also a diesel model powered with a 1.7-liter VGT engine with 140 horsepower and fuel efficiency of 18km per liter, the company said.

Both models come with a 6-speed automatic gearbox, the automaker said.

The new i40 Saloon is also equipped with improved safety features, including seven airbags installed in all vehicle models and next generation vehicle dynamic control.

“It’s a new type of mid-size sedan with new design that appeals to young drivers, dynamic driving performance and high-quality features,” the carmaker said in a statement.

The new car is priced at between 25.2 million won ($22,000) and 31.5 million won, depending on the accessories and engine type.

Hyundai Motor has no plans to sell the i40 Saloon in Europe or other overseas countries, a company official said. 

(Yonhap News)