The all-new 2011 Hyundai i40 is going to feature smaller four-cylinder engines and gasoline direct injection -GDI technology.  

Next generation Hyundai Sonata is slated to make its official Korean debut in September this year, with sales expected to commence by the end of the year. By February 2010, its sales is rumored to expand to North America and a few months later also to Europe and other parts of the world.

In Europe, new Sonata will adopt Hyundais latest naming scheme and will be called i40. The 2011 Hyundai i40 will be first available as a sporty wagon, while later, the sporty wagon will be joined by a four-door sedan.

According to the tip, we received from a close Hyundai source, European buyers of the i40 will be able to chose from a wide selection of diesel and gasoline powered four-cylinder engines with many of them implemented to the all-new mid-size Hyundai for the first time.

Base model of the 2011 Hyundai i40 will be equipped with a range of 1.6L diesel and gasoline powered engines. Each of the engines will feature Hyundais latest gasoline direct injection (GDI) technology, which means their horsepower numbers will be increased and are expected to equal those of the current 2.0L powerplant.

According to our source, the 1.6L diesel will be available in two variants, as a low horsepower output unit producing 115 horsepower and a high horsepower output unit with 136 hp.

Diesel power in the new Hyundai i40 will also come from a 2.0L R-diesel engine, which will churn out 184 hp, and most likely also from a 2.2L R-diesel unit with an estimated output of 200 horsepower.

In addition to wide range of diesel powerplants, Hyundai will also offer new i40 sedan and wagon with a choice of several new gasoline powered engines. Base Hyundai i40 is expected to feature a 1.6L four-cylinder engine under its hood. The 1.6Lunit, applied with gasoline direct injection technology will produce around 140 horsepower and will achieve about 5 percent better fuel economy than the current 2.0L engine.

Other direct gasoline injected engines in the European i40 engine line-up include a 2.0L four-cylinder with 172 hp and a 200 hp 2.4L Theta GDI engine reserved exclusively for the top of the range Hyundai i40.